boss

I. noun Etymology: Middle English boce, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *bottia Date: 14th century 1. a. a protuberant part or body <

a boss of granite

> <

a boss on an animal's horn

> b. a raised ornamentation ; stud c. an ornamental projecting block used in architecture 2. a soft pad used in ceramics and glassmaking 3. the hub of a propeller II. transitive verb Date: 15th century 1. to ornament with bosses ; emboss 2. to treat (as the surface of porcelain) with a boss III. noun Etymology: Dutch baas master Date: 1653 1. a person who exercises control or authority; specifically one who directs or supervises workers 2. a politician who controls votes in a party organization or dictates appointments or legislative measures • bossdom noun • bossism noun IV. adjective Date: 1836 slang excellent, first-rate V. transitive verb Date: 1856 1. to act as boss of 2. to give usually arbitrary orders to — usually used with around VI. noun Etymology: English dialect, young cow Date: 1790 cow, calf