1830 DICTIONARY

Is Your Boss a Stud?

Another unusual word adventure

Image from Canva

Occasionally over the last ten years, I’ve turned to an 1830 dictionary to look up random words. Today’s word is “boss.”

boss — “a stud; a thick body of any kind”

This 1830 definition doesn’t align with my understanding of the meaning at all! Let’s try some synonyms for “boss” as I understand the word.

leader — “one that leads or conducts; a commander”

manager— “one who has the direction of any thing; a man of frugality”

overseer — “a superintendent; an officer who has the care of the parochial provision for the poor”

commander — “he that has the supreme authority; a chief”

The definitions of these 4 words are more like what I expected when I looked for the word “boss.”

Perhaps there is a different meaning of “stud.” I very much doubt that the slang use of “stud” to refer to a handsome man was in use a couple hundred years ago.

stud — “a nail with a large head…