Boss

Alternative forms

 * (pre-1996)

Etymology
In the contemporary form (19th c.) chiefly from, partly also from older northern German (17th c.), both eventually from.

Noun

 * 1)  boss (person in charge, supervisor)
 * 2)  boss
 * 1)  boss

Usage notes

 * In common speech, may be a fairly neutral synonym of . In more formal contexts such neutral usage is sometimes met with in compounds, e.g. with the name of some company. For the most part, however,  has a negative overtone, either personal (despotism, haughtiness) or systemic (big business, predatory capitalism).