Boche
(bɒʃ)
Also erron. Bosch(e.
[Fr. slang, = rascal, German, said to be shortened from caboche head, or from Alboche, modification of Allemand German.]
The (French) soldiers' name for a German. Also attrib. or adj., German.
| [1887 A. Barrère Argot & Slang, Boche..rake... Tete de boche, German.] 1914 Daily Express 30 Sept. 4/2 Monsieur had better come under cover. The ‘Bosches’ are still firing this way. 1915 National Rev. Mar. 21 Easter passed without the promised bonne-bouche for the Bosches. 1917 G. S. Gordon Let. 12 Mar. (1943) 72 Our Archibalds are peppering a Boche aeroplane. 1919 ‘Boyd Cable’ Old Contemptibles viii. 130 A Boche..proceeded to drop bombs all over the place. 1920 Punch 20 Oct. 305/1 Bosch aeroplane observers. 1940 W. S. Churchill Into Battle (1941) 296 All Europe, if he [sc. Hitler] has his way, will be reduced to one uniform Boche-land. 1952 E. F. Davies Illyrian Venture ii. 43 If the Boche wanted a rough-house he could rely on Pickering to give it to him. |