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.
One who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.
The boss of the company was going to Spain for work.
Rule Number Two: Always treat the boss as if he's blind and stupid.2000 February 5, Douglas Watkinson & al., "Beyond the Grave", Midsomer Murders
1 more example
We have some vindictive people as bosses, and you don’t want to be the target of their wrath.2018 February 18, Dawn Pine, “Strategies for Dealing with a Bad Boss”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), archived from the original on 01 Oct 2020:
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A person in charge of a business or company.
Chat turned to whisper when the boss entered the conference room.
My boss complains that I'm always late to work.
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"Our Boss has resigned!" said Joe Chandler slowly, impressively. "No! Not the Commissioner o’ Police?" exclaimed Bunting.1913, Marie Adelaide Belloc Lowndes, The Lodger:
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A leader, the head of an organized group or team.
They named him boss because he had good leadership skills.
4
The head of a political party in a given region or district.
He is the Republican boss in Kentucky.
5
Australia The male owner or man in charge of a large rural property.
Above all, she must not tell the boss of any little irregularity she may see.1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 5:
Video games An enemy, often at the end of a level, that is particularly challenging and must be beaten in order to progress.
Cuphead built a reputation for difficulty before release, but its boss battles are mostly about recognizing patterns than getting lucky against unfair bosses. Watching players ace their way through the game’s bosses is a spellbinding reminder that even tough games can be defeated easily with hard work.2017 October 2, Heather Alexandra, “Cuphead Player Beats Bosses Without Taking A Single Hit”, in Kotaku, archived from the original on 18 Feb 2018:
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.
1
To exercise authoritative control over; to tell (someone) what to do, often repeatedly.
By YOU last night’s journey was actually bossed / Without you, I’m certain, we’d all have been lost.1931, Robert L. May, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Montgomery Ward (publisher)
His sisters bossed him and spoiled him. All their lives he was to go on being their little brother, who could do no wrong, because he was the baby; [...]1932, Lorine Pruette, The Parent and the Happy Child, page 76:
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She bossed him, and he's never gotten over it. She still orders him around, and instead of telling her to go soak her head, he just says 'Yes, ma'am' as weak as a newborn jellyfish [...]1967, Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, The purloined paperweight, page 90:
For if, on the one hand, I bossed him and showed him what to do and how to do it, [...]1980, Jean Toomer, The wayward and the seeking: a collection of writings by Jean Toomer, page 40:
Clarke was undoubtedly made to change things and for spells, the Czechs bossed the game. Scotland's midfield was nullified, Dykes struggled to hold the ball up while, barring a small handful of forays by Robertson, there was a distinct lack of width from the Scots.2021 June 14, Scott Mullen, “Scotland 0-2 Czech Republic”, in BBC Sport:
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.
Boy 2: He's the neatest looking guy on TV! Boy 3: I'll say! Boy 1: He sure is! Boy 3: Boy, the way he talks is really boss!1966 February 17, Dennis Whitcomb, “Zombo” (7:35 from the start), in The Munsters, season 2, episode 22:
boss
noun
Etymology From Middle English bos, bose, boce, from Old French boce (“lump, bulge, protuberance, knot”), from Frankish *bottja, from Proto-Germanic *bautaną (“to hit, strike, beat”). Doublet of beat; see there for more.
To the upper part of the frame a chain is attached, and if the screw shaft be drawn back out of the boss, the square frame may be hove up by carrying the chain to a winch—the sliding block maintaining the frame in the perpendicular position.1846, editorial staff, “Maudslay's Improvements in propelling Machinery”, in Scientific American (1), volume 2, number 13, page 100:
The seargent […] screwing a bipod into the threaded boss on the underside of the barrel would kill these animals […]1985, Cormac McCarthy, chapter IV, in Blood Meridian […] , →OCLC:
4
Architecture A knob or projection, usually at the intersection of ribs in a vault.
5
Architecture A roughly cut stone set in place for later carving.
Etymology From Middle English bos, bose, boce, from Old French boce (“lump, bulge, protuberance, knot”), from Frankish *bottja, from Proto-Germanic *bautaną (“to hit, strike, beat”). Doublet of beat; see there for more.
1
To decorate with bosses; to emboss.
boss
noun
Etymology Apparently a corruption of bast.
1
Obsolete A hassock or small seat, especially made from a bundle of straw.
All were waiting : uncle Charles, who sat far away in the shadow of the window, Dante and Mr Casey, who sat in the easy chairs at either side of the hearth, Stephen, seated on a chair between them, his feet resting on a toasting boss.1916, James Joyce, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Macmillan Press Ltd, paperback, section 36: