Word
hoss
/ˈhɑs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a big strong man, or a friendly way to call a man buddy in the southern US. You hear it in casual talk, like between friends in Texas.
n. a horse rendered in eye dialect, extended to mean a large powerful man and used as a familiar address term for a man. Chiefly Southern and Western US in origin, carrying connotations of size, strength, and good-natured familiarity.
Examples
“Hey hoss, can you help me move this table?”
“The coach slapped the young lineman on the back and said he was a real hoss on the field.”
“In the Texas bar, strangers called each other hoss with easy warmth, a word that managed to sound both teasing and respectful at once.”
Examples
simple
“Hey hoss, can you help me move this table?”
contextual
“The coach slapped the young lineman on the back and said he was a real hoss on the field.”
complex
“In the Texas bar, strangers called each other hoss with easy warmth, a word that managed to sound both teasing and respectful at once.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hoss” in context.
Verb
01. call hoss
“He grinned and called me hoss like we'd known each other for years.”
verb + noun
02. hoss drawls
“The hoss drawls, 'Well now, let me tell you how it is.'”
noun + verb
03. hoss grins
“The big hoss grins and tips his hat before answering.”
noun + verb
04. hoss laughs
“The hoss laughs loud and slaps the table with his big hand.”
noun + verb
05. tackle hoss
“It took two deputies to tackle that hoss outside the bar.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. big hoss
“They brought in some big hoss from Texas to play linebacker.”
adj + noun
07. old hoss
“How've you been, you old hoss? Haven't seen you since the rodeo.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. hell of hoss
“That boy's a hell of a hoss on the ranch.”
noun + prep + noun
09. big old hoss
“That big old hoss carried the engine block by himself.”
10. come on, hoss
“Come on, hoss, you're coming with us to the cookout.”
11. hey there, hoss
“Hey there, hoss, long time no see!”
12. listen here, hoss
“Listen here, hoss, we do things different down here.”
Usage
Used chiefly as a vocative address term for men in Southern and Western US speech.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/hoss