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ass - 10 dictionary results

ass

1  [as]
Use ass in a Sentence
–noun
1. a long-eared, slow, patient, sure-footed domesticated mammal, Equus asinus, related to the horse, used chiefly as a beast of burden.
2. any wild species of the genus Equus, as the onager.
3. a stupid, foolish, or stubborn person.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME asse, OE assa, prob. hypocoristic form based on OIr asan < L asinus; akin to Gk ónos ass

Related forms:
asslike, adjective

ass

2  [as]
–noun Vulgar.
1. the buttocks.
2. the rectum.
3. Slang. sexual intercourse.
Origin:
bef. 1000; var of arse, with loss of r before s, as in passel, cuss, etc.; ME ars, er(e)s, OE ærs, ears; c. OFris ers, D aars, ON, MLG, OS, OHG ars (G Arsch), Gk órrhos, Armenian or̄kh, Hittite arras; akin to Gk our, OIr err tail

ass.

 
1. assistant.
2. association.
3. assorted.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ass 1   (ās)   
n.   pl. ass·es (ās'ĭz)
  1. Any of several hoofed mammals of the genus Equus, resembling and closely related to the horses but having a smaller build and longer ears, and including the domesticated donkey.
  2. A vain, self-important, silly, or aggressively stupid person.

[Middle English asse, from Old English assa, perhaps of Celtic origin, ultimately from Latin asinus.]
ass 2   (ās)   
n.   pl. ass·es (ās'ĭz) Vulgar Slang
    1. The buttocks.
    2. The anus.
  2. Sexual intercourse.

[Middle English ars, from Old English ears; see ors- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Ass

Ass\, n. [OE. asse, AS. assa; akin to Icel. asni, W. asen, asyn, L. asinus, dim. aselus, Gr. ?; also to AS. esol, OHG. esil, G. esel, Goth. asilus, Dan. [ae]sel, Lith. asilas, Bohem. osel, Pol. osiel. The word is prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. ath?n she ass. Cf. Ease.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) A quadruped of the genus Equus (E. asinus), smaller than the horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray and long ears. The tame or domestic ass is patient, slow, and sure-footed, and has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. There are several species of wild asses which are swift-footed.

2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt. --Shak.

Asses' Bridge. [L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, "The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another." [Sportive] "A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge." --F. Harrison.

To make an ass of one's self, to do or say something very foolish or absurd.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : ass
Spanish: asno, burro,
German: der Esel,
Japanese: ろば
More Translations »

ass  (1)
beast of burden, O.E. assa (Old Northumbrian assal, assald), prob. from O.Celt. *as(s)in "donkey," which (with Ger. esel, Goth. asilus, Lith. asilas, O.C.S. osl) is ultimately from L. asinus, probably of Middle Eastern origin (cf. Sumerian ansu). Since ancient Gk. times, in fables and parables, the animal typifies clumsiness and stupidity (hence asshead, 1550, etc.). To make an ass of oneself is from 1590. Asses' Bridge (c.1780), from L. Pons Asinorum, is fifth proposition of first book of Euclid's "Elements."

ass  (2)
slang for "backside," first attested 1860 in nautical slang, in popular use from 1930; from Amer.Eng. pronunciation of arse (q.v.). The loss of -r- before -s- attested in several other words (e.g. burst/bust, curse/cuss, horse/hoss, barse/bass). Indirect evidence of the change from arse to ass can be traced to 1785 (in euphemistic avoidance of ass "donkey" by polite speakers) and perhaps to Shakespeare, if Nick Bottom transformed into a donkey in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1594) is the word-play some think it is. Meaning "woman regarded as a sexual object" is from 1942. Asshole first attested 1935.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Ass

frequently mentioned throughout Scripture. Of the domesticated species we read of, (1.) The she ass (Heb. 'athon), so named from its slowness (Gen. 12:16; 45:23; Num. 22:23; 1 Sam. 9:3). (2.) The male ass (Heb. hamor), the common working ass of Western Asia, so called from its red colour. Issachar is compared to a strong ass (Gen. 49:14). It was forbidden to yoke together an ass and an ox in the plough (Deut. 22:10). (3.) The ass's colt (Heb. 'air), mentioned Judg. 10:4; 12:14. It is rendered "foal" in Gen. 32:15; 49:11. (Comp. Job 11:12; Isa. 30:6.) The ass is an unclean animal, because it does not chew the cud (Lev. 11:26. Comp. 2 Kings 6:25). Asses constituted a considerable portion of wealth in ancient times (Gen. 12:16; 30:43; 1 Chr. 27:30; Job 1:3; 42:12). They were noted for their spirit and their attachment to their master (Isa. 1:3). They are frequently spoken of as having been ridden upon, as by Abraham (Gen. 22:3), Balaam (Num. 22:21), the disobedient prophet (1 Kings 13:23), the family of Abdon the judge, seventy in number (Judg. 12:14), Zipporah (Ex. 4:20), the Shunammite (1 Sam. 25:30), etc. Zechariah (9:9) predicted our Lord's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt," etc. (Matt. 21:5, R.V.). Of wild asses two species are noticed, (1) that called in Hebrew _'arod_, mentioned Job 39:5 and Dan. 5:21, noted for its swiftness; and (2) that called _pe're_, the wild ass of Asia (Job 39:6-8; 6:5; 11:12; Isa. 32:14; Jer. 2:24; 14:6, etc.). The wild ass was distinguished for its fleetness and its extreme shyness. In allusion to his mode of life, Ishmael is likened to a wild ass (Gen. 16:12. Here the word is simply rendered "wild" in the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version, "wild-ass among men").

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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ass

In addition to the idiom beginning with ass, also see break one's ass; chew out (one's ass off); cover one's ass; drag one's ass; kick ass; kick in the pants (ass); kiss ass; make a fool (an ass) of; pain in the ass; stick it (up one's ass); you bet your ass.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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