boss
/bɔs/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.76 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An enemy, often at the end of a level, that is particularly challenging and must be beaten in order to progress.
Example Sentences
- "The boss of the company was going to Spain for work."
- "Rule Number Two: Always treat the boss as if he's blind and stupid."
- "We have some vindictive people as bosses, and you don’t want to be the target of their wrath."
- "Chat turned to whisper when the boss entered the conference room."
- "My boss complains that I'm always late to work."
- ""Our Boss has resigned!" said Joe Chandler slowly, impressively. "No! Not the Commissioner o’ Police?" exclaimed Bunting."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰā- Proto-Germanic *bō-? Proto-Germanic *baswô Proto-West Germanic *baswō Old Dutch *baso Middle Dutch baes Dutch baasbor. English boss Borrowed from Dutch baas, from Middle Dutch baes (“master of a household, friend”), from Old Dutch *baso (“uncle, kinsman”), from Proto-West Germanic *baswō, from Proto-Germanic *baswô (“uncle”), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *ba-, *bō- (“father, older male relative”), source also of the English terms babe, boy, bub, bully. Cognate with Middle Low German bās (“supervisor, foreman”), Old Frisian bas (“master”), hence Saterland Frisian Boas (“boss”), Old High German basa (“father's sister, cousin”), hence German Base (“aunt, cousin”). Originally a term of respect used to address an older relative. Later, in New Amsterdam, it began to mean a person in charge who is not a master. The video game sense is borrowed from Japanese ボス (bosu), borrowed from English boss.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /bɔs/
- British English: /bɒs/