The Old Boy

The Old Boy
Boy Boy, n. [Cf. D. boef, Fries. boi, boy; akin to G. bube, Icel. bofi rouge.] 1. A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad; hence, a son. [1913 Webster]

My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

Note: Boy is often used as a term of comradeship, as in college, or in the army or navy. In the plural used colloquially of members of an associaton, fraternity, or party. [1913 Webster]

2. In various countries, a male servant, laborer, or slave of a native or inferior race; also, any man of such a race; -- considered derogatory by those so called, and now seldom used. [derog.]

He reverted again and again to the labor difficulty, and spoke of importing boys from Capetown. --Frances Macnab. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{Boy bishop}, a boy (usually a chorister) elected bishop, in old Christian sports, and invested with robes and other insignia. He practiced a kind of mimicry of the ceremonies in which the bishop usually officiated.

{The Old Boy}, the Devil. [Slang]

{Yellow boys}, guineas. [Slang, Eng.]

{Boy's love}, a popular English name of Southernwood ({Artemisia abrotonum}); -- called also {lad's love}.

{Boy's play}, childish amusements; anything trifling. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • the old boy network — UK / US noun a system by which men who went to the same school or college, who are members of the same club, or who know the same people, use their influence to help each other …   English dictionary

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