bozo

== English == === Etymology === Attested since the 1910s in American English, of uncertain origin. The term may derive from Spanish bozal, a term originally for a recently-imported slave and then "someone who speaks (Spanish) poorly". The term is older than Bozo the Clown, introduced in 1946. It is used as an insult in the 1931 Marx Brothers movie Monkey Business (1931 film). Derivation of the term from French bouseux /bu.zø/, a derogative term for a farmer equivalent to "bumpkin", is phonologically unlikely. Another possibility is Japanese 坊主 (bōzu) in its meaning of "young man", which can be derogatory, depending on the context. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbəʊ.zəʊ/ Rhymes: -əʊzəʊ === Noun === bozo (plural bozos) (slang) A stupid, foolish, or ridiculous person, especially a man. [from 1910s] ==== Synonyms ==== See also Thesaurus:fool ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== References ==== === Anagrams === zobo == Galician == === Alternative forms === buzo buço (reintegrationist) === Etymology === From Late Latin *buccĕus (“relating or belonging to the mouth”). See bucca for more. === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: bo‧zo === Noun === bozo m (plural bozos) muzzle Synonyms: boceira, embozo, vetillo pout fish mouth upper lip fluff ==== Derived terms ==== bozal embozar ==== Related terms ==== boza === References === Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “bozo”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “bozo”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “bozo”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN “bozo”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026 == Spanish == === Etymology === Borrowed from Medieval Latin *buccĕus (“relating or belonging to the mouth”). See bucca for more. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈboθo/ [ˈbo.θo] (Spain) IPA(key): /ˈboso/ [ˈbo.so] (Latin America, Philippines) Rhymes: -oθo (Spain) Rhymes: -oso (Latin America, Philippines) Syllabification: bo‧zo === Noun === bozo m (plural bozos) down, peach fuzz (soft hair on the upper lip) muzzle, mouth (exterior part of the mouth) halter (for leading horses) ==== Related terms ==== ==== See also ==== lanugo vello === Further reading === “bozo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 == Yami == === Noun === bozo ball