Sc. Also 6 bois, bos, 7 bosse. [perh. connected with BOSS sb.3, where some quotations refer to hollowness. But the notion may be ‘turgid, swollen’: cf. BOSS sb.1, v.1]
Hollow. lit. and fig. Boss window: bay window.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. ii.[i.] 73. With the straik, The bois cavys sowndit and maid a dyn.
c. 1565. R. Lindsay, Chron. Scotl., 235 (Jam.). The lordis … who war entred in the bos window.
1597. Lowe, Chirurg. (1634), 231. I use a little Instrument of silver, that is bosse or hollow within.
1719. Ramsay, Wks. (1848), I. 156. If these be solid ware or boss.
1834. H. Miller, Scenes & Leg., xii. (1857), 180. Making boss professions of goodwill.
b. Empty.
a. 1758. Ramsay, Poems, I. 285 (Jam.). He said, he gloom’d, and shook his thick boss head.
1832–53. Whistle-Binkie (Sc. Songs), Ser. II. 89. I’m sure ye’re neither boss nor dry.
c. Without resources, powerless.
a. 1600. A. Hume, Ep. G. Moncrief. They are bot stocks and stanes; bos, deif and dumb.
1768. Ross, Helenore, 21 (Jam.). He’s nae boss, six score o’ lambs this year.
