[youth] n, pl youths often attrib [ME youthe, fr. OE geoguth; akin to OE geong young--more at young] (bef. 12c) 1 a: the time of life when one is young; esp: the period between childhood and maturity b: the early period of existence, growth, or development
2. a: a young person; esp: a young male between adolescence and maturity b: young persons or creatures--usu. pl. in constr.
3: the quality or state of being youthful: youthfulness