The quality or state of being bossy; a tendency to give orders and tell others what to do.
From 'bossy' (adjective, meaning domineering) + '-ness' (English suffix forming abstract nouns). 'Bossy' comes from Dutch 'baas' (master), which entered English in the 17th century through colonial contact.
The word 'bossy' arrived in English surprisingly late—mostly in the 1800s—because for centuries English speakers used 'master' or 'commander' instead. The Dutch origin reflects how much the Netherlands influenced English through trade and exploration.
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