baas

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baas

(bäs)

n. pl. baas·es or baas·e (bäs′ə) South African & Offensive

1. A white person in a position of authority in relation to nonwhites, as an employer or owner of a business.

2. Used as a form of address for such a person.

[Afrikaans, from Dutch, master; see boss¹.]

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.

baas

(bɑːs)

(Industrial Relations & HR Terms) a South African word for a boss: often used by Black or Coloured people addressing a White manager or overseer

[C17: from Afrikaans, from Middle Dutch baes master; see boss¹]

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

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Noun

baas - South African term for `boss'

boss, foreman, honcho, chief, gaffer - a person who exercises control over workers; "if you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman"

baas

noun master, boss (informal), chief, ruler, commander, head, overlord, overseer The word 'baas' is now regarded as an expression of servility

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

Baas

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References in classic literature ?

"'No, Baas,' he answered, 'we are after something worth much more than ivory.'

"'No, Baas, something worth more than gold,' and he grinned.

"'Baas, have you ever heard of Suliman's Berg?'--that is, Solomon's Mountains, Sir Henry.

"'It is no story, Baas. Once I knew a woman who came from there, and reached Natal with her child, she told me:--she is dead now.'

View in context

"They'll bleat and baa, dona like goats, Gorge down black sheep, and strain at motes, Array their backs in fine black coats, Then seize their negroes by their throats, And choke, for heavenly union.