Dictionary

bo en · INTJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /bəʊ/ (UK)
• /boʊ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Imitative.

Meanings

1. An exclamation used to startle or frighten.
   • We may fairely cry bo-bo-boe; it may well make us hoarse, but it will nothing advaunce it. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 37, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

bo-peep · peep bo · say bo to a goose

bo en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /bəʊ/ (UK)
• /boʊ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Probably a shortening of boy.

Meanings

1. (US, slang) Fellow, chap, boy.
   • ‘Never heard of him,’ he smiled. ‘On your way, bo.’ 1940, Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, Penguin, published 2010, →ISBN, page 255:

Forms

bo en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /bəʊ/ (UK)
• /boʊ/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Japanese 棒 (bō), from Middle Chinese 棒 (baewng^X, “staff, club”) (compare modern Chinese 棒 (bàng)).

Meanings

1. A quarterstaff, especially in an oriental context.

Forms

bo en · PART · etymology 4

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /bəʊ/ (UK)
• /boʊ/ (General-American)
• [boː˨˦] (Singapore, interrogative)

Etymology

From Hokkien 無 /无 (bô).

Meanings

1. (Singapore, Singlish, interrogative) Final interrogative particle, used to invite agreement.
   • Swee bo?
2. (Singapore, Singlish, interrogative) Final interrogative particle, forming a yes-no question from a declarative statement.

Relateds

bo jio · tio bo · bo chup · bo liao · bo bian

Synonyms

or not · hor?

bo en · X · etymology 5

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /bəʊ/ (UK)
• /boʊ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Initialism of best of.

Meanings

1. (Singapore, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism) Initialism of best of: Often directly precedes an odd number.
   alt of best of
   • Best-of-three (bo3) Group Stage Match Information

Relateds

sic bo · BO · bo tree · zha bo · bo lei