An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Posse

by Friedrich Kluge

Posse, f., ‘drollery, fun, farce,’ first occurs in early ModHG.; corresponding to Du. poets, pots. OHG. gibôsi, ‘tricks, nugae’ (comp. böse), cannot be allied to it. In earlier ModHG. Posse also signified the decoration, the accessories in works of art; hence the word has been connected with Fr. ouvrage à bosse, ‘work in relief’ (comp. Ital. bozzo, ‘rough stone, stone blocks,’ bozzetto, ‘slight sketch’; also E. bosh?).