bozo
English edit
Etymology edit
Attested since the 1910s in American English, of uncertain origin.[1][2] The term may derive from Spanish bozal, a term originally for a recently-imported slave and then "someone who speaks (Spanish) poorly".[3] The term is older than Bozo the Clown, introduced in 1946.[3] Derivation of the term from French bouseux /bu.zø/, a derogative term for a farmer equivalent to "bumpkin", is phonologically unlikely. Another possibility is Japanese 坊主 (bōzu) in its meaning of "young man", which can be derogatory, depending on the context.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
bozo (plural bozos)
- (slang) A stupid, foolish, or ridiculous person, especially a man. [from 1910s]
- 1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 51:
- ‘What’s the big bozo up to?’
Synonyms edit
- See also Thesaurus:fool
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
References edit
- ^ “bozo”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
- ^ “bozo”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “bozo”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Anagrams edit
Galician edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Late Latin *buccĕus (“relating or belonging to the mouth”).[1] See bucca for more.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
bozo m (plural bozos)
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
References edit
- “bozo” in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega, SLI - ILGA 2006–2013.
- “bozo” in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega. Santiago: ILG.
- “bozo” in Álvarez, Rosario (coord.): Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués, Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega.
- ^ Joan Coromines, José A. Pascual (1983–1991) “bozo”, in Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico (in Spanish), Madrid: Gredos
Spanish edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Medieval Latin *buccĕus (“relating or belonging to the mouth”). See bucca for more.
Pronunciation edit
- IPA(key): (Spain) /ˈboθo/ [ˈbo.θo]
- IPA(key): (Latin America) /ˈboso/ [ˈbo.so]
- (Spain) Rhymes: -oθo
- (Latin America) Rhymes: -oso
- Syllabification: bo‧zo
Noun edit
bozo m (plural bozos)
- down, peach fuzz (soft hair on the upper lip)
- muzzle, mouth (exterior part of the mouth)
- halter (for leading horses)
Related terms edit
See also edit
Further reading edit
- “bozo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014
Yami edit
Noun edit
bozo