boss

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   exceptionally good

   a boss hand at carpentry

2. 2
   noun

   a person responsible for hiring workers

   the boss hired three more men for the new job

3. 3
   noun

   a person who exercises control and makes decisions

   They are their own boss now.

4. 4
   noun

   a leader in a political party who controls votes and dictates appointments

   party bosses have a reputation for corruption

5. 5
   noun

   A person who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.

   The boss of the company was going to Spain for work.

6. 6
   noun

   A person in charge of a business or company.

   Chat turned to whisper when the boss entered the conference room.

7. 7
   noun

   A leader, the head of an organized group or team.

   They named him boss because he had good leadership skills.

8. 8
   noun

   The head of a political party in a given region or district.

   He is the Republican boss in Kentucky.

Etymology

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, i…