doss: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, British/Irish slang. Can be dated or dated-sounding in many contexts.
Quick answer
What does “doss” mean?
(verb) to sleep in an improvised or basic place.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(verb) to sleep in an improvised or basic place; to spend time in a lazy or aimless way.
(noun) a place to sleep cheaply; an easy or undemanding task. Also used historically as a slang term for a bed or a dull, stupid person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This word is almost exclusively British/Irish slang. It is very rare in American English and would likely be misunderstood. Americans might use 'crash', 'sack out', or 'flop' for the sleeping sense, and 'slack off' or 'goof off' for the idling sense.
Connotations
In the UK, it has working-class and sometimes negative connotations (laziness, poverty). In the US, it is essentially a non-word.
Frequency
Frequent in certain UK/Irish informal contexts but overall low frequency. Declining in general use, especially among younger speakers, who might use 'kip' or 'chill' instead.
Grammar
How to Use “doss” in a Sentence
[sb] dosses down[sb] dosses about/around[sb] dosses (somewhere)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doss” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We can just doss on the floor if there's no spare bed.
- He spent the summer dossing around instead of looking for a job.
- The travellers dossed down in the barn for the night.
American English
- (Not used. Equivalent: We can just crash on the floor...)
- (Not used. Equivalent: He spent the summer goofing off...)
- (Not used. Equivalent: The travellers bedded down in the barn...)
adjective
British English
- (Rare as adjective; 'doss' is typically noun/verb. 'Dossy' exists as slang.)
- That's a right doss job, no effort required.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used informally, primarily in UK/Ireland, among friends or in casual conversation about sleeping or laziness.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doss”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it in American English contexts.
- Pronouncing it like 'dose'.
- Using it as a noun for a person (the correct term is 'dosser').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's not swearing, but it is informal and can be derogatory when describing someone as lazy ('a dosser').
'Doss' implies a temporary, makeshift, or lazy form of sleeping, often not in a proper bed. 'Sleep' is the neutral term.
No, it would almost certainly cause confusion. Use 'crash', 'slack off', or 'take it easy' instead, depending on the meaning.
A historical term for a very cheap, run-down lodging house or hostel, often associated with poverty.
(verb) to sleep in an improvised or basic place.
Doss is usually informal, british/irish slang. can be dated or dated-sounding in many contexts. in register.
Doss: in British English it is pronounced /dɒs/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɑːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “doss down for the night”
- “an easy doss (an easy task/job)”
- “on the doss (being idle)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DOS computer from the 1980s just lying there, inactive and lazy – it's having a DOSS.
Conceptual Metaphor
INACTIVITY IS A PLACE OF REST (e.g., 'He's on the doss'), LAZINESS IS LOW-EFFORT SLEEPING.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the word 'doss' most commonly used and understood?