v. & n.
v. 1 tr. throw up (a ball etc.) esp. with the hand. 2 tr. & intr. roll about, throw, or be thrown, restlessly or from side to side (the ship tossed on the ocean; was tossing and turning all night; tossed her head angrily). 3 tr. (usu. foll. by to, away, aside, out, etc.) throw (a thing) lightly or carelessly (tossed the letter away). 4 tr. a throw (a coin) into the air to decide a choice etc. by the side on which it lands. b (also absol.; often foll. by for) settle a question or dispute with (a person) in this way (tossed him for the armchair; tossed for it). 5 tr. a (of a bull etc.) throw (a person etc.) up with the horns. b (of a horse etc.) throw (a rider) off its back. 6 tr. coat (food) with dressing etc. by shaking. 7 tr. bandy about in debate; discuss (tossed the question back and forth).
n. 1 the act or an instance of tossing (a coin, the head, etc.). 2 Brit. a fall, esp. from a horse. toss one's head throw it back esp. in anger, impatience, etc. tossing the caber the Scottish sport of throwing a tree-trunk. toss oars raise oars to an upright position in salute. toss off 1 drink off at a draught. 2 dispatch (work) rapidly or without effort (tossed off an omelette). 3 Brit. coarse sl. masturbate. °Usually considered a taboo use in sense 3. toss a pancake throw it up so that it flips on to the other side in the frying-pan. toss up toss a coin to decide a choice etc. toss-up n. 1 a doubtful matter; a close thing (it's a toss-up whether he wins). 2 the tossing of a coin.
[ 16th c.: orig. unkn. ]