doss

See also: Doss and DOSS

English

Etymology

Perhaps from Latin dorsum (“the back”), i.e. what one lies on when sleeping; perhaps from English dialect doss (“a hassock”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /dɒs/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /dɑs/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒs, -ɔːs

Verb

doss (third-person singular simple present dosses, present participle dossing, simple past and past participle dossed)

1. (intransitive, British and Ireland) To avoid work, shirk, etc.

   I am going to doss tomorrow when the match is on.

2. (intransitive, British, 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

sleep in the open

• Czech: nocovat (nouzově), spát (cs), uložit se (k spánku), přespávat impf

Noun

doss (countable and uncountable, plural dosses)

1. (slang, British and Ireland) The avoidance of work.

   I am going to have a doss tomorrow.

2. (slang, British and Ireland) An easy piece of work.

   Circumnavigating the world in a canoe is no doss.

3. (slang, dated, British and Ireland) A place to sleep in; a bed.
4. (slang, dated, British and Ireland, by extension) Sleep.

Adjective

doss (not comparable)

1. (Scotland) Useless or lazy. Generally combined with expletive noun, especially cunt.

   Get a hauld o yersel, ya doss cunt!

2. (Scotland) Good, desirable.

   The place is pure doss, like.

See also

• doss about
• doss around
• doss down
• doss-house
• doss off
• dosser

Anagrams

• DSOs, SDOs, dsos, sods

French

Etymology

Clipping of dossier.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dos/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

doss m (plural doss)

1. (slang) an embarrassing story