[ad. Du. baas master (older sense ‘uncle’), supposed to be related to Ger. base female cousin, OHG. basa ‘aunt.’]
An American equivalent of ‘master’ in the sense of employer of labor; applied also to a business manager, or any one who has a right to give orders. In England only in workmen’s slang, or humorously, = ‘leading man, swell, top-sawyer.’
1822. J. Flint, Lett. Amer., 9. Master is not a word in the vocabulary of hired people. Bos, a Dutch one of similar import, is substituted.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., III. ii. (1849), 86. The overseer of the roads … could give me employment as a boss, or foreman.
1868. W. Whitman, To Working Men (Rossetti), 102. Were I to you as the boss employing and paying you, would that satisfy you?
1870. Miss Bridgman, R. Lynne, II. ix. 187. We shall have one of the head bosses of the medical profession down here.
b. In American politics, a manager or dictator of a party organization.
1882. H. Spencer, in Standard, 31 Oct., 5/7. Manifestly, those who framed your Constitution never dreamed that twenty thousand citizens would go to the poll led by a ‘boss.’
c. attrib. Of persons: Master, chief. Of things: Most esteemed, ‘champion.’
1860. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., s.v., We hear of a boss-carpenter, a boss-bricklayer, boss-shoemaker, etc. instead of master-carpenter, etc.
1877. Besant & Rice, Son of Vulc., I. xiv. 150. ‘Good God A’mighty in heaven!’ said the boss boatman, who was a religious man.
1881. N. York Nation, 3 Feb. No country in the world could make such a boss-show as the United States.
1884. Lisbon (Dakota) Star, 29 Aug. The boss thresher of Ransom county. Ibid., 10 Oct. They are of the ‘Welcome’ variety, and are the boss oats.
