Doss

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /dɒs/

Definitions

1. To adopt a laid-back lifestyle characterized by lounging, to catch some rest in inappropriate or makeshift surroundings, or to live idly with no particular goals in mind
2. To sleep or remain temporarily in a place that is usually informal or not intended for accommodation ; to exist in a state of idleness without regular employment or definite aims
3. To take shelter or rest in a location not formally arranged as a dwelling ; to lead a life lacking steady work or purpose

Etymology: The verb "doss" is one of those words whose origin is genuinely unsettled, and the two leading candidates point in quite different directions. One proposal connects it to Latin "dorsum", meaning "the back", on the idea that a sleeper is someone lying on their back. The other looks closer to home, to an English dialect word "doss" meaning a hassock, a low cushion or stool, which would make the sleeping sense a matter of resting on a makeshift seat rather than on a bed. Neither explanation is firmly established, and the dialect link has the advantage of pointing to a plain English source rather than a classical one. Either way, the word's core sense has stayed remarkably stable: a night spent somewhere rough and unofficial, with no proper bed in sight.

Synonyms: nap, rest, sleep, doze, slumber

Antonyms: wake, arouse, energize, stimulate, activate