HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

boss¹

(bôs, bŏs)

a. An employer or supervisor.

b. One who makes decisions or exercises authority.

2. A professional politician who controls a party or a political machine.

tr.v. bossed, boss·ing, boss·es

To give orders to, especially in an arrogant or domineering manner: bossing us around.

adj.
Slang

First-rate; topnotch.

[Dutch baas, master (from earlier, uncle); akin to Old High German basa, aunt.]

boss²

(bôs, bŏs)

1. A circular protuberance or knoblike swelling, as on the horns of certain animals.

2. A raised area used as ornamentation.

3. Architecture A raised ornament, such as one at the intersection of the ribs in a vaulted roof.

a. An enlarged part of a shaft to which another shaft is coupled or to which a wheel or gear is keyed.

b. A hub, especially of a propeller.

tr.v. bossed, boss·ing, boss·es

To emboss.

[Middle English boce, from Old French, hump, bump, ultimately (via a Vulgar Latin form such as *bottia; compare Italian bozza, bump) from Gaulish *buððā, bump, protuberance, from Proto-Celtic *bozdā, part that sticks out, protuberance (compare Welsh both, umbo, nave of a wheel); probably akin to Albanian gjethe, foliage, Old Church Slavonic gvozdĭ, nail, and Middle High German quast, bundle of twigs, besom.]

(click for a larger image)

boss²

depicting the murder of Thomas à Becket in Exeter Cathedral

Exeter, England

boss³

(bôs, bŏs)

A cow or calf.

[Akin to English dialectal (southwest England) buss, boss, young calf and probably also to busk, calf remaining unweaned for too long, of unknown origin.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products