boss

¹

[baws, bos]

noun

1. a person who employs or superintends workers; manager.

   Synonyms: overseer, administrator, superintendent, chief, foreman, head, supervisor

2. a politician who controls the party organization, as in a particular district.

3. a person who makes decisions, exercises authority, dominates, etc..

   My grandfather was the boss in his family.

4. (in a video game or role-playing game) a powerful nonplayer character, often appearing at the end of a level or at the end of the game, who must be defeated in order for a player to move on to a new level or to win the game (often used attributively): Your objective for this boss-level event is to survive several waves of zombie attacks.

   Is there a trick to beating the final boss?

   Your objective for this boss-level event is to survive several waves of zombie attacks.

verb (used with object)

1. to be master of or over; manage; direct; control.

2. to order about, especially in an arrogant manner.

verb (used without object)

1. to be boss.

2. to be too domineering and authoritative.

adjective

1. chief; master.

2. Slang.,  first-rate.

boss

²

[baws, bos]

noun

1. Botany, Zoology.,  a protuberance or roundish excrescence on the body or on some organ of an animal or plant.

2. Geology.,  a knoblike mass of rock, especially an outcrop of igneous or metamorphic rock.

3. an ornamental protuberance of metal, ivory, etc.; stud.

4. Architecture.

   1. an ornamental, knoblike projection, as a carved keystone at the intersection of ogives.

   2. a stone roughly formed and set in place for later carving.

5. Bookbinding.,  one of several pieces of brass or other metal inset into the cover of a book to protect the corners or edges or for decoration.

6. Machinery.,  a small projection on a casting or forging.

7. Nautical.,  a projecting part in a ship's hull, or in one frame of a hull, fitting around a propeller shaft.

verb (used with object)

1. to ornament with bosses.

2. to emboss.

3. (in plumbing) to hammer (sheet metal, as lead) to conform to an irregular surface.

boss

³

[bos, baws]

noun

1. a familiar name for a calf or cow.

boss

⁴

[bos]

adjective

Scot.

1. hollow; empty.

boss

¹

/ bɒs /

noun

1. a knob, stud, or other circular rounded protuberance, esp an ornamental one on a vault, a ceiling, or a shield

2. biology any of various protuberances or swellings in plants and animals

3. 1. an area of increased thickness, usually cylindrical, that strengthens or provides room for a locating device on a shaft, hub of a wheel, etc

   2. a similar projection around a hole in a casting or fabricated component

4. an exposed rounded mass of igneous or metamorphic rock, esp the uppermost part of an underlying batholith

verb

1. to ornament with bosses; emboss

boss

²

/ bɒs /

noun

1. a person in charge of or employing others

2. a professional politician who controls a party machine or political organization, often using devious or illegal methods

verb

1. to employ, supervise, or be in charge of

2. to be domineering or overbearing towards (others)

adjective

1. slang,  excellent; fine

   a boss hand at carpentry

   that's boss!

BOSS

³

/ bɒs /

acronym

1. Bureau of State Security; a branch of the South African security police

boss

⁴

/ bɒs /

noun

1. a calf or cow

Word History and Origins

Origin of boss¹

An Americanism dating from 1640–50; from Dutch baas “master, foreman”

Origin of boss²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English boce, from Anglo-French: “lump, growth, boil”; Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin bottia, of uncertain origin

Origin of boss³

An Americanism first recorded in 1790–1800; compare dialectal (southwest England) borse, boss, buss “six-month-old calf”

Origin of boss⁴

First recorded in 1505–15; of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of boss¹

C13: from Old French boce , from Vulgar Latin bottia (unattested); related to Italian bozza metal knob, swelling

Origin of boss²

C19: from Dutch baas master; probably related to Old High German basa aunt, Frisian baes master

Origin of boss³

C19: from dialect buss calf, perhaps ultimately from Latin bōs cow, ox

Example Sentences

“Not that you could go in your boss’ closet and wear her clothes, no!

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some employees point out that broadly, the rules have changed, with bosses expecting staffers to be connected at all hours to respond quickly to messages.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The former Liverpool and Leicester City boss departs with the champions trailing Hearts by eight points after nine Scottish Premiership games.

Read more on BBC

"Tommy does so many things so well, and I think he looked physical, fast, skilful, he took the ball in the air beautifully and was in the right place," Northampton boss Phil Dowson said.

Read more on BBC

The widespread caution in hiring now is frustrating job seekers and leading many employees within organizations to feel stuck in place, unable to ascend or take on new roles, workers and bosses say.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• administrator 
• chief 
• chieftain 
• director 
• employer 
• executive 
• leader 
• owner 
• supervisor