Boss¹

An employer. As an adjective, principal.

1806.  May 26…. By the time I had finished the letter, I had completely forgotten the errand I was sent on; so I had to return, make an awkward apology to boss, and look like a nincompoop.—W. Irving, ‘Life and Letters,’ i. 171 (1862). (Italics in the original.)
  [Irving’s “boss” was Josiah G. Hoffman, a N.Y. lawyer.]

1818.  Now I reckon you do not know that my boss would not have a single ugly or clever gentleman come to his store, if he cut coloured men; now my boss, I guess, ordered me to turn out every coloured man from the store right away, and if I did not, he would send me off slick; for the slimmest gentleman in York would not come to his store if coloured men were let in; but you know all that Sir, I guess, without my telling you; you are an elegant gentleman, too, Sir. [A negro barber in Broadway loquitur.]—H. B. Fearon, ‘Sketches of America,’ p. 59 (Lond.).

1822.  Master is not a word in the vocabulary of hired people. Bos, a Dutch one of similar import, is substituted for it.—J. Flint, ‘Letters,’ p. 9. (N.E.D.)

1839.  “Why don’t you get in, boss?” said one of the men on the dock.—Charles F. Briggs, ‘Harry Franco,’ i. 31.

1840.  The fifer was no other than Charley Moggs, long known as the boss loafer of Bickerbray.—John P. Kennedy, ‘Quodlibet,’ p. 244 (1860).

1841.  The boss had been in for a few moments; but, finding his hands absent, he had left.—Mr. Benton of Missouri, U.S. Senate, July 13: Congressional Globe, p. 191.

1845.  The prefix Boss was doubtless acquired from the fact of his affecting to be a leading character in his settlement.—W. T. Thompson, ‘Chronicles of Pineville,’ p. 43 (Phila.).

1847.  I swow to man, I thought he’d strike the boss.—‘The Great Kalamazoo Hunt,’ p. 44 (Phila.).

1848.  “How d’ye dew, folks?” said the stranger, puffing away at a long cigar; “is the boss devil to hum?”—W. E. Burton, ‘Waggeries,’ p. 63 (Phila.).

1850.  Mr. Gouch, the boss of the gang, was a middle-aged, middle-sized man, with a heavy face and a dull eye.—S. Judd, ‘Richard Edney,’ p. 48 (Boston).

1862.