ˈbȯi noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English; akin to Frisian boi boy and probably to Old English Bōia, Bōfa (masculine proper names), Old High German Buobo (masculine proper name), Middle High German buobe boy; all perhaps from prehistoric West Germanic words derived by baby talk from the West Germanic word corresponding to Old English brōthor brother — more at brother
1.
a. : a male child from birth to puberty
boy baby
b. : son : male offspring
this is my little boy
c. : a male person not fully matured or not felt to be mature : lad , youth
a job that separates the men from the boys
boy scientist
boy wonder
d. : sweetheart , beau : young social partner
she is never seen with a boy
: favorite
the fair-haired boy of the department
e. : pupil , student
college boys
day boy
2.
a. : one native to or originally belonging to a given place
a country boy at heart
a local boy who made good in the big city
b. : a member of a group, gang, or any kind of association of equals
wait till the boys back home hear this
the boys at the office
: conformist — usually used in plural
trying to be just one of the boys
c. slang : one classed or identified with a particular profession or specialty
what the science boys have discovered
the boys in the drafting room
or doctrine
the hard-money boys
the happiness boys
or faction
controlled by the big-business boys
— usually used with some degree of ridicule, hostility, or contempt; usually used in plural
3. obsolete : rascal , knave , varlet
4.
a. : a male servant
house boy
stable boy
b. : one who does light work especially in the service fields
I'll send a boy over with it
— usually used in combinations
delivery boy
c. : a male member of a race felt to be inferior
hiring boys for a safari
5. : man , fellow — used in affection or admiration or familiarity
a nice old boy
the boss is quite a boy
cheer up, old boy