doss

/dɒs/

//dɒs// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"doss" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“doss” is uncommon English (frequency #51,073 among 3,470 “D” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#51,073
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To avoid work, shirk, etc.

Corpus desk

Index EN-doss · doss · English

doss · rank #51,073 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #51,073
  • LEN-MID 4 letters
  • VOW-1 1 vowel
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH Dixit

Nearest frequency peer: Dixit (-3 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “doss”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “doss” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for doss
PropertyValue
Headworddoss
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/dɒs/
Letters4
Frequency rank#51,073
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “doss” in English

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).dossfalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “Dixit” (#51,070), “droning” (#51,076), “divan” (#51,069). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “doss” is #51,073. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

doss is uncommon English at frequency #51,073 among 3,470 “D” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /dɒs/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for doss, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Perhaps from Latin dorsum (“the back”), i.e. what one lies on when sleeping; perhaps from English dialect doss (“a hassock”). The correct English form is doss, spelled D-O-S-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    To avoid work, shirk, etc.
  2. 2
    To sleep, especially in the open or in a makeshift bed, commonly in a derelict building because one is homeless.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how doss appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. I am going to doss tomorrow when the match is on.
  2. I normally have to doss in shop doorways or on park benches.

Etymology

Perhaps from Latin dorsum (“the back”), i.e. what one lies on when sleeping; perhaps from English dialect doss (“a hassock”).

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "doss"?
"doss" is spelled D-O-S-S. The IPA pronunciation is /dɒs/.
What does "doss" mean?
As a verb, "doss" means: To avoid work, shirk, etc.
How do you pronounce "doss"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "doss" is /dɒs/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "doss"?
Perhaps from Latin dorsum (“the back”), i.e. what one lies on when sleeping; perhaps from English dialect doss (“a hassock”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "doss", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 4 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Elbe#51,083DHCP#51,060Eris#51,093FWIW#51,128

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list