boson n 1: any particle that obeys Bose-Einstein statistics but not the Pauli exclusion principle; all nuclei with an even mass number are bosons
boson \bo"son\ (b[=o]"z[o^]n), n. [From S. N. Bose, an Indian physicist.] (Physics) A fundamental particle that obeys Bose-Einstein statistical rules, but not the Pauli exclusion principle; the spin value of a boson is always an integer. Examples of bosons are alpha particles, photons, and those nuclei which have an even mass number. [PJC]
boson \bo"son\ (b[=o]"s'n), n. See {Boatswain}. [Obs.] [Also spelled {bosun}.] --Dryden. [1913 Webster]