Standard Lemma guide

dosser

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈdɒsə(ɹ)/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɒsə(ɹ)

1

noun

Meaning 1

Someone who dosses, someone known for avoiding work.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ireland, UK

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shirker, bum, couch potato, dawdler, deadbeat, dogfucker, do-naught, do-nothing, dosser, idler, idleton, faineant, flaneur, footler, get-nothing, good-for-nothing, goldbricker, goof-off, lallygag, lollygagger, laggard, layabout, lazy ass, lazybones, lazy louse, lidderon, lie-abed, loafer, loiter-sack, lounge lizard, lounger, morepork, ne'er-do-well, poop, ragabash, skiver, slacker, slob, slow belly, slug, slugabed, slug-a-bed, slugabug, sluggabed, sluggard, sofa spud, tarrier, truant, wasteman, waster, wastrel

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A homeless and jobless person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

One who lodges in a doss-house.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A pannier or basket.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A hanging tapestry; a dorsal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

someone who sleeps in any convenient place

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: street person

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tramp, hobo, bum

History

Etymology

From doss + -er.

Late Latin dosserum, or French dossier (“bundle of papers, part of a basket resting on the back”), from Latin dorsum (“back”). See dorsal.