Where does the word 'Hoss' come from?

[Midnight Rider]

Seriously,I know what our definition of a hoss is (really huge immobile guy), but how did that term come to be linked with the word 'Hoss'?

The only other 'Hoss' I know are that one member of the old Funk Family and Ben Cartwright's son on Bonanza.

[crazyrose]

it's a backstage JRism I believe, it's common in the south to call a big strong man a "Horse" or a "Hoss"

[HoagieWithPastrami]

Isn't a Hoss like a big strong horse?

[HoagieWithPastrami]

NO WAIT! It was also a character on that old TV show about the old west!

[superborracho6000]

I thought it was from Bonanza, but they probly got it from somewhere else.

I believe Hoss (dan blocker!) was named Hoss cuz Lorne Green saved his German mom from a snow storm or something when he was about to be born, and since he was as big as a midget rassler when she popped him out, she named him 'Haus' because he was as big as a house.

I miss saturday westerns.

[thefranceman]

We all know, it came from Hoss Funk.

[sunwukong]

It can refer alternately to a large horse, to to "Hoss", a character from Bonanza, who was a very large man.

He wore a very large hat as well.

[Ratings]

I do recall one time I was reading a page on the interent about "Hoss".

It said that orginally, "hoss" was used to describe a wrestler with power and intensity or something like that. In other words, it was a compliment. But since JR used it for wrestlers like Billy Gunn, the term became a running joke. Now it is used to describe big lugs with little to none talent and charisma.

[Ratings]

Here's a site I found about the subject:

www.angelfire.com/wrestling3/funnywrestlers/Hoss.htm

[Midnight Rider]

Wow...very nice Ratings.Now I know all about hosses............And knowing is half the battle!*GI Joe Music*

[crazyrose]

best line of the Hoss thing

In the last month or so, Batista has beaten several people by knocking them out with a running forearm. As if using this move isn’t bad enough, whenever he does it J.R. goes into super serious mode and acts as if Batista has just inflicted a career ending injury. In addition, he has had several run ins with Kane. To say J.R. gets excited would be an understatement. He calls Batista an animal and calls Kane the Big Red Machine and goes on about how vicious they are etc.

[WWHHHD]

sunwukong said:

He wore a very large hat as well.

Speaking of large hats.. Somone post the pic of the Smoking Guns hats that WWF tryed to sell. The oversized cowboy foam hat instant crap!

[superborracho6000]

I'm wondering if Dan Blocker ever entered the squared circle. He definately had the size to be called a legit 'hoss.' There have been weirder wrestlers, like Dr. Sam Shepard and Buford Pusser.

[Ultimo Chocula]

crazyrose said:

best line of the Hoss thing

In the last month or so, Batista has beaten several people by knocking them out with a running forearm. As if using this move isn’t bad enough, whenever he does it J.R. goes into super serious mode and acts as if Batista has just inflicted a career ending injury. In addition, he has had several run ins with Kane. To say J.R. gets excited would be an understatement. He calls Batista an animal and calls Kane the Big Red Machine and goes on about how vicious they are etc.

Meanwhile he's monotone for a spot filled cruiserweight match. Time to take JR back behind the wood shed.

[amsiraK]

According to my husband, reading over my shoulder, it means:

Hooked On Steroids, Stupid.

[Ratings]

midnightrider said:

Wow...very nice Ratings.Now I know all about hosses............And knowing is half the battle!*GI Joe Music*

No problem.