Dictionary

doss en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /dɒs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɑs/ (cot-caught-merger)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (Scotland, not-comparable) Useless or lazy. Generally combined with expletive noun, especially cunt.
   • Convinced it's no bullshit, the doss cunt dismisses the session. Ah walk tae freedom; perr auld Spud gits taken doon. 1993, Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, Times Film School, page 68:
   • Get a hauld o yersel, ya doss cunt!
2. (Scotland, not-comparable) Good, desirable.
   • The place is pure doss, like.

Relateds

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

doss en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /dɒs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɑs/ (cot-caught-merger)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (Ireland, UK, countable, slang, uncountable) The avoidance of work.
   • I am going to have a doss tomorrow.
2. (Ireland, UK, countable, slang, uncountable) An easy piece of work.
   • Circumnavigating the world in a canoe is no doss.
3. (Ireland, UK, countable, dated, slang, uncountable) A place to sleep in; a bed.
4. (Ireland, UK, broadly, countable, dated, slang, uncountable) Sleep.

Forms

Deriveds

dossbag

doss en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /dɒs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɑs/ (cot-caught-merger)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (Ireland, UK, intransitive) To avoid work, shirk, etc.
   • I am going to doss tomorrow when the match is on.
2. (Australia, UK, intransitive, slang) To sleep, especially in the open or in a makeshift bed, commonly in a derelict building because one is homeless.
   • "You can doss on the floor. 1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 169:
   • I normally have to doss in shop doorways or on park benches.

Forms

Deriveds

dosser · doss off · doss out · overdoss

Translations (4)

cs přespávat (sleep in the open) · cs spát (sleep in the open) · cs uložit se (k spánku) (sleep in the open) · cs nocovat (nouzově) (sleep in the open)