Boche

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Boche

also boche (bŏsh, bôsh)

n. Offensive Slang

A German, especially a German soldier in World War I or World War II.

[French, alteration of Alboche, blend of Allemand, German; see allemande, and French dialectal caboche, cabbage, blockhead; see cabbage.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Boche

(bɒʃ)

(esp in World Wars I and II) n

1. a German, esp a German soldier

2. the Boche (usually functioning as plural) Germans collectively, esp German soldiers regarded as the enemy

[C20: from French, probably shortened from alboche German, from allemand German + caboche pate]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Boche

(bɒʃ, bɔʃ)

n., pl. Boche, Boches (bosh, bôsh).

usage: This term dates back to World War I and was also used in World War II, but it appears today only in historical contexts. It is used with disparaging intent and is perceived as highly insulting.

—n.

(sometimes l.c.) Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. (a contemptuous term used to refer to a German, esp. a German soldier in World War I and II.)

[1910–15; < French, aph. variant of alboche German]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

Boche - offensive term for a person of German descent

Jerry, Kraut, Krauthead, Hun

derogation, disparagement, depreciation - a communication that belittles somebody or something

jargon, lingo, patois, argot, vernacular, slang, cant - a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves); "they don't speak our lingo"

German - a person of German nationality

Translations

Boche

[bɒʃ]

A. ADJ (pej) → alemán, tudesco

B. N (pej) → boche m, alemán m
the Boche → los alemanes

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Boche

n (pej inf) → Boche m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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References in classic literature ?

At first the boches didn't seem to grasp his intention.

I sprang from the pilot-house and followed, not to be left out in the cold when it came to strafing the boches. From the engine room companionway came the engineer and stockers, and together we leaped after the balance of the crew and into the hand-to-hand fight that was covering the wet deck with red blood.

View in context

It was the second time he had spoken in three days and perhaps his very silence, ominous in itself, had done more to arouse terror in the breast of the Boche than even the spear point, ever ready as it always was.