Bossman

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɒsmæn/

Definitions

1. A person who holds authority or leadership over others ; a man regarded with respect or as influential within a group or community
2. An individual who directs or controls a group or operation ; a male figure admired for his power or influence in a social setting
3. One who manages or oversees activities or people ; a male considered important or commanding esteem among peers

Etymology: "Bossman" is a plain compound: "boss" joined to "man." The first half has a surprising pedigree of its own. "Boss" came into English in the 1600s from Dutch "baas," meaning master or foreman, and in American English it was taken up in the 1800s for anyone who directed workers or ran a political machine. Its own origin is contested, with some scholars tracing it further back to a Dutch word for a master or employer. The second half, "man," is the ordinary Old English word for an adult male, and in compounds it often denotes a person who performs a role, as in "foreman" or "spokesman." Put together, "bossman" describes the person who fills the role of the boss, and it carries the informal, slightly colloquial flavour that "boss" itself has always had, rather than the formal weight of "manager" or "supervisor."

Synonyms: supervisor, manager, chief, leader, foreman

Antonyms: subordinate, employee, follower, assistant, underling