# bosman

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bosman
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

A family name that comes from the Netherlands.

For teachers: A surname of Dutch origin, literally meaning 'forest man' or 'woodsman'.

- The famous South African writer Herman Charles Bosman wrote many short stories.
- The archival records indicate that the Bosman family settled in the Cape Colony during the late seventeenth century.

Usage: Capitalized as a proper noun.

### 2. a language

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

A language spoken by a small group of people in Papua New Guinea.

For teachers: A Ramu language spoken in the Madang Province of Papua New Guinea.

- Linguists traveled to the village to study the unique grammar of Bosman.
- Comparative analysis suggests that Bosman shares several phonological features with other languages in the Ramu river basin.

Usage: Used as a proper noun to refer to the language or the ethnic group.

## Examples

- The club signed the experienced defender on a Bosman, so they paid no transfer fee.
- With his contract running out in the summer, the striker was free to leave on a Bosman, and several big clubs wanted to sign him for nothing.
- Ever since the Bosman ruling transformed the transfer market, clubs have been reluctant to let key players run into the final year of their deals, fearful of losing them on a Bosman for no fee.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.