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Definition of hoss

hoss

/hɔːs/
hoss
Plural:hosses
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hoss Lexical Profile

hoss Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A large, strong, and dependable man, or a friendly, informal term of address for a man or boy.

Example

"Take it easy, hoss, we have plenty of time to finish loading the truck."

2

American A dialectal or informal pronunciation and spelling of 'horse', a large domesticated hoofed mammal of the family Equidae used for riding and draft work.

Example

"The old rancher saddled up his favorite hoss at dawn to check the far pasture."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for hoss

• Nearby Words

hospitality
hospitalization
hospitalize
hoss
host
hosta
hostage

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in the 19th century as a regional American dialectal pronunciation of 'horse', it evolved into an affectionate term for a large, strong, or dependable man, later popularized by the character Hoss Cartwright on the television series Bonanza.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hoss. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hoss
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