Nearby Words
noun
1.
a male child, from birth to full growth, especially one less than 18 years of age.
2.
a young man who lacks maturity, judgment, etc.
3.
Informal. a grown man, especially when referred to familiarly: He liked to play poker with the boys.
4.
a son: Sam's oldest boy is helping him in the business.
5.
EXPANDa male who is from or native to a given place.
6.
boys, (used with a singular or plural verb)
a.
a range of sizes from 8 to 20 in garments made for boys.
b.
a garment in this size range.
c.
the department or section of a store where these garments are sold.
7.
boys, military personnel, especially combat soldiers: Support the boys overseas.
8.
Disparaging and Offensive. a man considered by the speaker to be inferior in race, nationality, or occupational status.
9.
a young male servant; page.
10.
Offensive. (in India, China, Japan, etc.) a native male servant, working as a butler, waiter, houseboy, etc.
11.
COLLAPSENautical. an apprentice seaman or fisherman.
interjection
12.
an exclamation of wonder, approval, etc., or of displeasure or contempt.
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Boys
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English boy(e), perhaps after Old English Bōia man's name; cognate with Frisian boi young man; akin to Old English bōfa, Old Norse bōfi, Old High German Buobo man's name (German Bube knave, (dial.) boy, lad)
1250–1300; Middle English boy(e), perhaps after Old English Bōia man's name; cognate with Frisian boi young man; akin to Old English bōfa, Old Norse bōfi, Old High German Buobo man's name (German Bube knave, (dial.) boy, lad)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To boys
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
boy
mid-12c., boie "servant, commoner, knave, boy," possibly from O.Fr. embuie "one fettered," from V.L. *imboiare, from L. boia "leg iron, yoke, leather collar," from Gk. boeiai dorai "ox hides." But it also appears to be identical with E.Fris. boi "young gentleman," and perhaps with Du. boef "knave,"
EXPAND from M.Du. boeve, perhaps from M.L.G. buobe. This suggests a gradational relationship to babe. Used slightingly of young men in M.E.; meaning "male negro slave or Asian personal servant of any age" attested from c.1600. (Words for "boy" double as "servant, attendant" across the I.E. map -- e.g. It. ragazzo, Fr. garçon, M.E. knave, O.C.S. otroku -- and often it is difficult to say which meaning came first.) Amer.Eng. expression oh, boy attested from 1917.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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