*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of bo

Imitative.

5 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 5 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
intj

An exclamation used to startle or frighten.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Imitative.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
noun

Fellow, chap, boy.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Probably a shortening of boy.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
noun

A quarterstaff, especially in an oriental context.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Japanese 棒 (bō), from Middle Chinese 棒 (baewng^X, “staff, club”) (compare modern Chinese 棒 (bàng)).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Derivation mention棒ja
  • Cognate mention棒zh
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ja",
        "3": "棒",
        "tr": "bō"
      },
      "expansion": "Japanese 棒 (bō)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ltc",
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        "4": "",
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      },
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    },
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      "name": "cog",
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        "2": "棒",
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      },
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      "club",
      "club"
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      "棒",
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Source etymology 4

Original entry ↗
particle

Final interrogative particle, used to invite agreement. · Final interrogative particle, forming a yes-no question from a declarative statement.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Hokkien 無 /无 (bô).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Borrowed-form mention無nan-hbl
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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        "1": "en",
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        "3": "無",
        "tr": "bô"
      },
      "expansion": "Hokkien 無 /无 (bô)"
    }
  ],
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      "無",
      "無#Hokkien"
    ],
    [
      "无",
      "无#Hokkien"
    ]
  ],
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        "Final interrogative particle, used to invite agreement.",
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Source etymology 5

Original entry ↗
phrase

Initialism of best of: Often directly precedes an odd number.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Initialism of best of.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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  ],
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    [
      "best of",
      "best of#English"
    ]
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for bo →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-Ym8