verb
doss
dos
Doss (verb) means to sleep somewhere makeshift or temporary, especially not in one's own bed. Example: “We ended up dossing on a friend's floor after missing the last train.”
verb
1
To sleep somewhere makeshift or temporary, especially not in one's own bed.
"I normally have to doss in shop doorways or on park benches."
"We ended up dossing on a friend's floor after missing the last train."
""You can doss on the floor."
— Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia (1913)
2
To avoid work or laze around.
"I am going to doss tomorrow when the match is on."
"He spent the whole afternoon dossing instead of finishing the report."
How to use doss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBritish slang for crashing somewhere to sleep, or for slacking off instead of working.
When to use it
Informal British slang.
Common pairings
doss down
doss about
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Word forms
- Plural
- dosses
- Third person singular
- dosses
- Past tense
- dossed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We ended up _____ on a friend's floor after missing the last train.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; possibly linked to Latin dorsum, "the back" — as in what you lie on to sleep.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for doss
See all rhymes for doss →Frequently asked questions
What does “doss” mean?
The word “doss” means to sleep somewhere makeshift or temporary, especially not in one's own bed. In plain terms, british slang for crashing somewhere to sleep, or for slacking off instead of working.
How do you pronounce “doss”?
“Doss” is pronounced dos (/dɒs/ in IPA).
How do you use “doss” in a sentence?
Here is “doss” used in a sentence: “We ended up dossing on a friend's floor after missing the last train.”
What part of speech is “doss”?
“Doss” is a verb.
Where does the word “doss” come from?
The word “doss” comes from Latin. Origin uncertain; possibly linked to Latin dorsum, "the back" — as in what you lie on to sleep.
How many meanings does “doss” have?
“Doss” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to sleep somewhere makeshift or temporary, especially not in one's own bed.
