bo meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

bo

intj

UK /bəʊ/ · US /boʊ/

Etymology Imitative.

An exclamation used to startle or frighten.

We may fairely cry bo-bo-boe; it may well make us hoarse, but it will nothing advaunce it.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 37, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

noun

Etymology Probably a shortening of boy.

US, Slang Fellow, chap, boy.

‘Never heard of him,’ he smiled. ‘On your way, bo.’1940, Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, Penguin, published 2010, →ISBN, page 255:

particle

Singapore, interrogative [boː˨˦]

Etymology From Hokkien 無 /无 (bô).

Singapore, Singlish, Interrogative Final interrogative particle, used to invite agreement.

Singapore, Singlish, Interrogative Final interrogative particle, forming a yes-no question from a declarative statement.

noun

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

Government, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Martial arts, Military, Politics, Sports, War A quarterstaff, especially in an oriental context.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.