Boss

See also: boss and boß

English

Proper noun

Boss

  1. A surname.

Anagrams

German

Alternative forms
  • Boß (pre-1996)

Etymology

In the contemporary form (19th c.) chiefly from English boss, partly also from older northern German Baas (17th c.), both eventually from Dutch baas.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /bɔs/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Boss m (strong, genitive Bosses, plural Bosse)

  1. (usually informal or derogatory) boss (person in charge, supervisor)
    Synonyms: Chef, Vorgesetzter
  2. (video games) boss
    Synonym: Endgegner

Usage notes
  • In common speech, Boss may be a fairly neutral synonym of Chef. In more formal contexts such neutral usage is sometimes met with in compounds, e.g. with the name of some company. For the most part, however, Boss has a negative overtone, either personal (despotism, haughtiness) or systemic (big business, predatory capitalism).

Declension
Declension of Boss [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Boss die Bosse
genitive eines des Bosses der Bosse
dative einem dem Boss, Bosse1 den Bossen
accusative einen den Boss die Bosse

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms
  • (video games): Endboss, Zwischenboss

Further reading
  • “Boss” in Duden online
  • “Boss” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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