Boston

noun

Bos·​ton ˈbȯ-stən How to pronounce Boston (audio)
1
: a variation of whist played with two decks of cards
2
[Boston, Massachusetts] : a dance somewhat like a waltz

Word History

Etymology

French, from Boston, Massachusetts

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Boston was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near Boston

Cite this Entry

“Boston.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Boston. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Geographical Definition

Boston

geographical name

Bos·​ton ˈbȯ-stən How to pronounce Boston (audio)
1
city, port on Massachusetts Bay, and capital of Massachusetts population 617,594
2
port in Parts of Holland, Lincolnshire, eastern England population 52,600
Bostonian adjective or noun

More from Merriam-Webster on Boston

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!