bo
An exclamation used to startle or frighten.
Interjection
- An exclamation used to startle or frighten.
- We may fairely cry bo-bo-boe; it may well make us hoarse, but it will nothing advaunce it. - 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 37, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for...
Origin
Imitative.
Forms
Derived
Noun US, slang
- Fellow, chap, boy.
- ‘Never heard of him,’ he smiled. ‘On your way, bo.’ - 1940, Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, Penguin, published 2010, →ISBN, page 255:
Origin
Probably a shortening of boy.
Forms
Noun government, hobbies
- A quarterstaff, especially in an oriental context.
Origin
From Japanese 棒 (bō), from Middle Chinese 棒 (baewng^X, “staff, club”) (compare modern Chinese 棒 (bàng)).
Forms
Particle
- Final interrogative particle, used to invite agreement.
- Swee bo?
Synonyms: hor?
- Final interrogative particle, forming a yes-no question from a declarative statement.
Synonyms: or not
Origin
From Hokkien 無 /无 (bô).
Related
Phrase
- Initialism of best of: Often directly precedes an odd number.
- Best-of-three (bo3) Group Stage Match Information
Related: BO
Origin
Initialism of best of.