Where does “boss” come from?
boss (English) comes from Middle English bos, from Old French boce, from Vulgar Latin bottia, from Frankish bottija, from Frankish bōtan, from Proto-Germanic bautaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰewd-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- — to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
boss (English): A person who oversees and directs the work of...
Definitions
- A person who oversees and directs the work of...
Ancestry of “boss”, step by step
boss traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English bos
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bos | — |
| 2 | Old French | boce | swelling |
| 3 | Vulgar Latin | bottia | bump |
| 4 | Frankish | bottija | — |
| 5 | Frankish | bōtan | to strike, knock down |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | bautaną | to beat, push |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰewd- | to hit, strike; to beat, push; to strike, push,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰew- | to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to... |
via Dutch baas
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | baas | boss, chief, superior; employer, manager; strong... |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | baes | master of a household, friend |
| 3 | Old Dutch | baso | uncle, kinsman |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *baswō | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | baswô | uncle; kinsman |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | baswǭ | father's sister, aunt, cousin; father's sister;... |