Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Bossy

Boss′y

,
Adj.
Ornamented with bosses; studded.

Bos′sy

,
Noun.
[Dim. fr. Prov. E.
boss
in
boss-calf
,
buss-calf
, for
boose-calf
, prop., a calf kept in the stall. See 1st
Boose
.]
A cow or calf; – familiarly so called.
[U. S.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Bossy

BOSS'Y

,
Adj.
Containing a boss; ornamented with bosses.
His head reclining on his bossy shield.

Definition 2024


bossy

bossy

English

Adjective

bossy (comparative bossier, superlative bossiest)

  1. Tending to give orders to others, especially when unwarranted; domineering.
Synonyms
Translations

Etymology 2

Diminutive of dialectal English boss, as used in the term boss-calf (which, like buss-calf, is a variant form of boose-calf, a calf kept in a boose (stall)).

Noun

bossy (plural bossies)

  1. (US, informal, dated) A cow or calf.
    • about 1900, O. Henry, Hygeia at the Solito
      A week before, while riding the prairies, Raidler had come upon a sick and weakling calf deserted and bawling. Without dismounting he had reached and slung the distressed bossy across his saddle, and dropped it at the ranch for the boys to attend to.

Etymology 3

boss + -y

Adjective

bossy (comparative more bossy, superlative most bossy)

  1. Ornamented with bosses; studded.

Lower Sorbian

Adjective

bossy

  1. Obsolete spelling of bósy