Source etymology 1 · variant 1/2
Original entry ↗noun
Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventoryOne who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor. · A person in charge of a business or company. · A leader, the head of an organized group or team. · The head of a political party in a given region or district.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰā- Proto-Germanic *bō-? Proto-Germanic *baswô Proto-West Germanic *baswō Old Dutch *baso Middle Dutch baes Dutch baasbor. English boss Borrowed 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, in New Amsterdam, it began to mean a person in charge who is not a master. The video game sense is borrowed from Japanese ボス (bosu), borrowed from English boss.
Relationships mentioned by the source
These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.
- Borrowed-form mentionbaasnl
- Derivation mentionbaesdum · master of a household, friend
- Derivation mention*basoodt · uncle, kinsman
- Derivation mention*baswōgmw-pro
- Derivation mention*baswôgem-pro · uncle
- Derivation mention*bō-gem-pro · father, older male relative
- Cognate mentionbāsgml
- Cognate mentionbasofs
- Cognate mentionBoasstq · boss
- Cognate mentionbasagoh
- Borrowed-form mentionボスja
- Derivation mentionbossen
This page abbreviates 4 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.
Inspect preserved source fields
Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.
{
"templates": [
{
"name": "ety",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": ":bor",
"3": "nl:baas",
"id": "leader",
"tree": "1"
},
"expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *bʰā-\nProto-Germanic *bō-?\nProto-Germanic *baswô\nProto-West Germanic *baswō\nOld Dutch *baso\nMiddle Dutch baes\nDutch baasbor.\nEnglish boss\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"id\" : \"boy\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"boy\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"redlink\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*bʰā-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*bō-\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*baswô\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*baswō\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old Dutch\", \"term\" : \"*baso\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"odt\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle Dutch\", \"term\" : \"baes\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"dum\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Dutch\", \"term\" : \"baas\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"nl\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"boss\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"leader\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"boss\" id=\"English:_leader\">"
},
{
"name": "bor",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "nl",
"3": "baas"
},
"expansion": "Dutch baas"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "dum",
"3": "baes",
"t": "master of a household, friend"
},
"expansion": "Middle Dutch baes (“master of a household, friend”)"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "odt",
"3": "*baso",
"t": "uncle, kinsman"
},
"expansion": "Old Dutch *baso (“uncle, kinsman”)"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "gmw-pro",
"3": "*baswō"
},
"expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *baswō"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "gem-pro",
"3": "*baswô",
"t": "uncle"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Germanic *baswô (“uncle”)"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "gem-pro",
"3": "*bō-",
"4": "*ba-, *bō-",
"t": "father, older male relative"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Germanic *ba-, *bō- (“father, older male relative”)"
},
{
"name": "cog",
"args": {
"1": "gml",
"2": "bās",
"3": "",
"4": "supervisor, foreman"
},
"expansion": "Middle Low German bās (“supervisor, foreman”)"
},
{
"name": "cog",
"args": {
"1": "ofs",
"2": "bas",
"3": "",
"4": "master"
},
"expansion": "Old Frisian bas (“master”)"
},
{
"name": "cog",
"args": {
"1": "stq",
"2": "Boas",
"t": "boss"
},
"expansion": "Saterland Frisian Boas (“boss”)"
},
{
"name": "cog",
"args": {
"1": "goh",
"2": "basa",
"3": "",
"4": "father's sister, cousin"
},
"expansion": "Old High German basa (“father's sister, cousin”)"
},
{
"name": "ety",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": ":bor",
"3": "ja:ボス",
"id": "video game enemy"
},
"expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"leader\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"id\" : \"boy\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"boy\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"redlink\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*bʰā-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*bō-\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*baswô\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*baswō\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old Dutch\", \"term\" : \"*baso\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"odt\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle Dutch\", \"term\" : \"baes\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"dum\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Dutch\", \"term\" : \"baas\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"nl\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"boss\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Japanese\", \"term\" : \"ボス\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ja\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"boss\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"video game enemy\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"boss\" id=\"English:_video_game_enemy\">"
},
{
"name": "bor+",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ja",
"3": "ボス",
"tr": "bosu",
"nocap": "1"
},
"expansion": "borrowed from Japanese ボス (bosu)"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "en",
"3": "boss"
},
"expansion": "English boss"
},
{
"name": "ety",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": ":bor",
"3": "nl:baas",
"id": "leader",
"tree": "1"
},
"expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *bʰā-\nProto-Germanic *bō-?\nProto-Germanic *baswô\nProto-West Germanic *baswō\nOld Dutch *baso\nMiddle Dutch baes\nDutch baasbor.\nEnglish boss"
},
{
"name": "ety",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": ":bor",
"3": "ja:ボス",
"id": "video game enemy"
},
"expansion": ""
}
],
"links": [
[
"*bʰā-",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/bʰā-#Proto-Indo-European:_boy"
],
[
"*bō-",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/bō-#Proto-Germanic:_boy"
],
[
"*baswô",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/baswô"
],
[
"*baswō",
"Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/baswō"
],
[
"*baso",
"Reconstruction:Old Dutch/baso"
],
[
"baes",
"baes#Middle_Dutch"
],
[
"baas",
"baas#Dutch"
],
[
"baas",
"baas#Dutch"
],
[
"baes",
"baes#Middle_Dutch"
],
[
"*baso",
"Reconstruction:Old Dutch/baso"
],
[
"*baswō",
"Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/baswō"
],
[
"*baswô",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/baswô"
],
[
"*ba-, *bō-",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/bō-"
],
[
"babe",
"babe#English"
],
[
"boy",
"boy#English"
],
[
"bub",
"bub#English"
],
[
"bully",
"bully#English"
],
[
"bās",
"bas#Middle_Low_German"
],
[
"bas",
"bas#Old_Frisian"
],
[
"Boas",
"Boas#Saterland_Frisian"
],
[
"basa",
"basa#Old_High_German"
],
[
"Base",
"Base#German"
],
[
"ボス",
"ボス#Japanese"
],
[
"boss",
"boss#English"
]
],
"references": [],
"descendants": [
{
"lang": "Tok Pisin",
"lang_code": "tpi",
"word": "bos"
},
{
"lang_code": "zh",
"lang": "Chinese",
"descendants": [
{
"lang": "Mandarin",
"lang_code": "cmn",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Cantonese",
"lang_code": "yue",
"word": "波士",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
],
"roman": "bo¹ si⁶⁻²"
}
]
},
{
"lang": "Danish",
"lang_code": "da",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Indonesian",
"lang_code": "id",
"word": "bos",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang_code": "no",
"lang": "Norwegian",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
],
"descendants": [
{
"lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
"lang_code": "nb",
"word": "boss"
}
]
},
{
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"word": "ボス",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
],
"roman": "bosu"
},
{
"lang": "Korean",
"lang_code": "ko",
"word": "보스",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
],
"roman": "boseu"
},
{
"lang": "Maltese",
"lang_code": "mt",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Polish",
"lang_code": "pl",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Portuguese",
"lang_code": "pt",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Romanian",
"lang_code": "ro",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"word": "босс",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
],
"roman": "boss"
},
{
"lang": "Swedish",
"lang_code": "sv",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Tagalog",
"lang_code": "tl",
"word": "bos",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Tagalog",
"lang_code": "tl",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
},
{
"lang": "Turkish",
"lang_code": "tr",
"word": "boss",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
]
}
],
"lexical": [
{
"pos": "noun",
"glosses": [
"One who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.",
"A person in charge of a business or company.",
"A leader, the head of an organized group or team.",
"The head of a political party in a given region or district."
],
"tags": [],
"recordId": "cd8a280a749a911d595b6f94ec731fc65f7a8e118e95005312917d3e687c99d3",
"rawRecordSha256": "a20b3faa1888bc1adbf562b53d24fd814ff5ffb5c1f2f6daa3e07562c94dc3ae",
"sourceRecordOrdinal": 19957
}
],
"omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
"templates": 0,
"links": 0,
"references": 0,
"descendants": 0,
"lexicalRecords": 0,
"lexicalSenses": 4,
"glosses": 0
}
}