A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad; hence, a son.
My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee.
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.
Phrases & Compounds
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.
Yellow boys
guineas.
Boy's love
a popular English name of Southernwood (Artemisia abrotonum); -- called also lad's love.
Boy's play
childish amusements; anything trifling.
Boy
v. t.
To act as a boy; -- in allusion to the former practice of boys acting women's parts on the stage.
I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness.