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doss
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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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) 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)
- (intransitive, British and Ireland) To avoid work, shirk, etc.
- I am going to doss tomorrow when the match is on.
- (intransitive, British, Australia, slang) To sleep, especially in the open or in a makeshift bed, commonly in a derelict building because one is homeless.
- I normally have to doss in shop doorways or on park benches.
- 1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 169:
- "You can doss on the floor.
Derived terms
Translations
Noun
doss (countable and uncountable, plural dosses)
- (slang, British and Ireland) The avoidance of work.
- I am going to have a doss tomorrow.
- (slang, British and Ireland) An easy piece of work.
- Circumnavigating the world in a canoe is no doss.
- (slang, dated, British and Ireland) A place to sleep in; a bed.
- (slang, dated, British and Ireland, by extension) Sleep.
Derived terms
Adjective
doss (not comparable)
- (Scotland) Useless or lazy. Generally combined with expletive noun, especially cunt.
- Get a hauld o yersel, ya doss cunt!
- 1993, Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, Times Film School, page 68:
- Convinced it's no bullshit, the doss cunt dismisses the session. Ah walk tae freedom; perr auld Spud gits taken doon.
- (Scotland) Good, desirable.
- The place is pure doss, like.
See also
Anagrams
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French
Etymology
Pronunciation
Noun
doss m (invariable)
- (slang) an embarrassing story
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