doss

[ dos ]

noun

1. a place to sleep, especially in a cheap lodging house.
2. sleep:

   I had some great doss last night, and I'm feeling pretty good today.

verb (used without object)

1. to sleep or lie down in any convenient place:

   We dossed in the park last night, but it started to rain in the early morning.

doss

/ dɒs /

verb

1. introften foll bydown to sleep, esp in a dosshouse
2. introften foll byaround to pass time aimlessly

noun

1. a bed, esp in a dosshouse
2. a slang word for sleep
3. short for dosshouse
4. a task or pastime requiring little effort

   making a film is a bit of a doss

Word History and Origins

Origin of doss¹

First recorded in 1775–85; origin obscure; perhaps from French dos, from Latin dorsum, dossum “back, ridge”

Word History and Origins

Origin of doss¹

C18: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

"The weather means they have not had much to do but doss around eating good grass," Mrs McGrath said.

From BBC

He grew up in Clydebank, dossed around at school and left with no qualifications.

From The Guardian

The incident came just days after a man apparently set himself on fire near BART’s Fruitvale station in Oakland after dossing himself with gasoline, the East Bay Times reported.

From Fox News

We dossed about, we knuckled down, and then this week we hit a wall.

From The Guardian

Liverpool’s most vulnerable young people had been provided for, but not supported, given homes to play adults in, doss, get wasted and deal drugs.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• cot
• pallet