Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

doss

/dɒs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.53 in modern English

Syllables
doss
IPA
/dɒs/
5
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To avoid work, shirk, etc.

British usage; Intransitive verb

verb

To sleep, especially in the open or in a makeshift bed, commonly in a derelict building because one is homeless.

Australian usage; British usage; Intransitive verb; Slang

noun

The avoidance of work.

British usage; Countable; Slang; Uncountable

noun

An easy piece of work.

British usage; Countable; Slang; Uncountable

noun

A place to sleep in; a bed.

British usage; Countable; Dated; Slang; Uncountable

noun

Sleep.

British usage; Countable; Dated; Slang; Uncountable

adj

Useless or lazy. Generally combined with expletive noun, especially cunt.

adj

Good, desirable.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Perhaps from Latin dorsum (“the back”), i.e. what one lies on when sleeping; perhaps from English dialect doss (“a hassock”).

Regional Pronunciation

  • British English: /dɒs/

Usage

Inflected Forms

dosses (present, singular) dossing (participle, present) dossed (participle, past) dossed (past) dosses (plural)

Derived Forms

dosser overdoss dossbag

Phrases

doss off doss out doss about doss around doss down doss-house

Frequently Paired Words

doss about doss around doss down doss-house doss off dosser

Synonyms

doss down crash

Rhymes With

across loss cross sauce cos toss moss dos gloss mos lacrosse ros

Questions

How do you pronounce doss?
The recorded pronunciation is /dɒs/.
What does doss mean?
To avoid work, shirk, etc.
Where does doss come from?
Perhaps from Latin dorsum (“the back”), i.e. what one lies on when sleeping; perhaps from English dialect doss (“a hassock”).

How to pronounce doss

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “doss”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɒs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “doss”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “doss” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.