English word boss comes from Frankish *bottja, Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ-, and later Old French boce (Swelling (for example, due to injury or illness).)
You can also see our other etymologies for the English word boss. Currently you are viewing the etymology of boss with the meaning: (Verb Noun) (transitive) To decorate with bosses; to emboss. (archery) the target block, made of foam but historically made of hay bales, to which a target face is attached.. (architecture) A knob or [...](transitive) To decorate with bosses; to emboss. (archery) the target block, made of foam but historically made of hay bales, to which a target face is attached.. (architecture) A knob or [...]
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *bottja | Frankish (frk) | |
| *bʰendʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | bind, to bind, to tie, bind , to tie |
| boce | Old French (fro) | Swelling (for example, due to injury or illness). |
| *bandstaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *bansaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Barn. Crib; cradle. Stall (for animals). |
| *bōs | Old English (ang) | |
| boose | Middle English (enm) | |
| boss | English (eng) | (transitive) To decorate with bosses; to emboss. (archery) the target block, made of foam but historically made of hay bales, to which a target face is attached.. (architecture) A knob or projection, usually at the intersection of ribs in a vault.. (geology) A lump-like mass of rock, especially one projecting through a stratum of different rock.. (mechanics) A protrusion, frequently a [...] |