ass

¹ass

noun \ˈas\

Definition of ASS

1

: any of several hardy gregarious African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus) smaller than the horse and having long ears; especially : an African mammal (E. asinus) that is the ancestor of the donkey

2

sometimes vulgar : a stupid, obstinate, or perverse person <made an ass of himself> —often compounded with a preceding adjective <don't be a smart-ass>

Origin of ASS

Middle English, from Old English assa, probably from Old Irish asan, from Latin asinus

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with ASS

bass, brass, class, crass, frass, gas, glass, grass, lass, mass, pass, sass, strass, tasse, vas, wrasse

²ass

noun \ˈas\

Definition of ASS

1

a often vulgar : buttocks —often used in emphatic reference to a specific person <get your ass over here> <saved my ass>

b often vulgar : anus

2

usually vulgar : sexual intercourse

Variants of ASS

ass or arse \ˈas, ˈärs\

Origin of ASS

Middle English ars, ers, from Old English ærs, ears; akin to Old High German & Old Norse ars buttocks, Greek orrhos buttocks, oura tail

First Known Use: before 12th century

³ass

adverb

Definition of ASS

often vulgar

—used as a postpositive intensive especially with words of derogatory implication <fancy-ass>

Origin of ASS

²ass

First Known Use: circa 1920

ass

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Either of two species of small, sturdy equines. Asses are 3–5 ft (90–150 cm) high at the shoulder. The African wild ass, or true ass (Equus asinus) is bluish gray to fawn; the Asiatic wild ass, or half-ass (E. hemionus) is reddish to yellow-gray. The half-ass differs from the true ass in that it has extremely long, slender legs, shorter ears, and larger hooves. The true ass has the alternating “hee-haw” bray. Desert dwellers, wild asses often inhabit regions that cannot support other large mammals. They are very swift runners. See also donkey.

Variants of ASS

ass or wild ass