Bosley

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A surname of English origin borne by various people, and also the name of several small towns in the United States
2. A family name of English origin, and also a name given to a number of small American communities
3. A proper noun used as a surname for many individuals, and as the name of several minor places in America

Etymology: Bosley is mainly a place name and a surname, so its history lies in a village rather than in a common word. The village in Cheshire, England, has an Old English name, and its second element is likely "leah," meaning a clearing or woodland. The first element is less certain. Surnames like this usually began as a way of saying "from that place," and the family name later spread across England and to other countries with emigrants. Among the best-known bearers is the American actor Tom Bosley, who played Sheriff Amos Tupper in the television series "Happy Days." Separately, the character name in the television series "Charlie's Angels" is also Bosley, though that name draws on the surname rather than the village.