Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
hoss. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
hoss, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
hoss in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
hoss you have here. The definition of the word
hoss will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
hoss, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Non-rhotic pronunciation of horse.
See also 'oss in English dialects with H-dropping.
Pronunciation
Noun
hoss (countable and uncountable, plural hosses)
- (Southern US, slang) Pronunciation spelling of horse.
1922, Max Brand [pseudonym; Frederick Schiller Faust], Alcatraz:"Them hosses are feeling their oats," said McGuire. "Can't tell what they'd be up to the minute I turned my back on 'em. Might jump that old fence and be off, for all I know."
- (Southern US, slang) A big, strong and respected or dependable person, usually a man; one who is large like a horse.
2004 December 8, Susan Reinhardt, “Facing my fear: Doing Disney with the crowds”, in Asbury Park Press, page 18:So here I was, fondling all sorts of fine mats, when a hoss of a woman screeched into her cell phone, rattling the lamps in the light fixture aisle.
- (Southern US, slang, often capitalized) Term of address for a man.
What's up, hoss?
- (Northwestern US, slang) A car.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Anagrams
Norwegian Bokmål
Adverb
hoss
- form removed with the spelling reform of 1959; superseded by hvordan
Norwegian Nynorsk
Adverb
hoss
- (pre-2012) alternative form of korleis