doss
English edit
Etymology edit
Perhaps from Latin dorsum (“the back”), i.e. what one lies on when sleeping; perhaps from English dialect doss (“a hassock”).
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /dɒs/
- (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA(key): /dɑs/
Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -ɒs, -ɔːs
Verb edit
doss (third-person singular simple present dosses, present participle dossing, simple past and past participle dossed)
- (intransitive, Britain and Ireland) To avoid work, shirk, etc.
- I am going to doss tomorrow when the match is on.
- (intransitive, Britain, slang) To sleep, especially in the open or in a derelict building because one is homeless.
- I normally have to doss in shop doorways or park benches.
Translations edit
Noun edit
doss (countable and uncountable, plural dosses)
- (slang, Britain and Ireland) The avoidance of work.
- I am going to have a doss tomorrow.
- (slang, Britain and Ireland) An easy piece of work.
- Circumnavigating the world in a canoe is no doss.
- (slang, dated, Britain and Ireland) A place to sleep in; a bed.
- (slang, dated, Britain and Ireland, by extension) Sleep.
Adjective edit
doss (not comparable)
- (Scotland) Useless or lazy. Generally combined with expletive noun, especially cunt.
- Get a hauld o yersel, ya doss cunt!
- (Scotland) Good, desirable.
- The place is pure doss, like.
See also edit
Anagrams edit
French edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
doss m (plural doss)
- (slang) an embarrassing story