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Antonyms for boy


Grammar : Noun
Spell : boi
Phonetic Transcription : bɔɪ



Definition of boy

Origin :
  • mid-13c., boie "servant, commoner, knave, boy," of unknown origin. Possibly from Old French embuie "one fettered," from Vulgar Latin *imboiare, from Latin boia "leg iron, yoke, leather collar," from Greek boeiai dorai "ox hides." (Words for "boy" double as "servant, attendant" across the Indo-European map -- e.g. Italian ragazzo, French garçon, Greek pais, Middle English knave, Old Church Slavonic otroku -- and often it is difficult to say which meaning came first.)
  • But it also appears to be identical with East Frisian boi "young gentleman," and perhaps with Dutch boef "knave," from Middle Dutch boeve, perhaps from Middle Low German buobe. This suggests a gradational relationship to babe. For a different conjecture:
  • In Old English, only the proper name Boia has been recorded. ME boi meant 'churl, servant' and (rarely) 'devil.' In texts, the meaning 'male child' does not antedate 1400. ModE boy looks like a semantic blend of an onomatopoeic word for an evil spirit (*boi) and a baby word for 'brother' (*bo). [Liberman]A noticable number of the modern words for 'boy', 'girl', and 'child' were originally colloquial nicknames, derogatory or whimsical, in part endearing, and finally commonplace. These, as is natural, are of the most diverse, and in part obscure, origin. [Buck]
  • Used slightingly of young men in Middle English; meaning "male negro slave or Asian personal servant of any age" attested from c.1600. Exclamation oh, boy attested from 1892.
  • noun young man
Example sentences :
  • "Men say it is not so grand as the statue of Zeus, that we have at Olympia," replied the boy.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • Boy, they be not due to you till you be come to years of discretion.
  • Extract from : « The Armourer's Prentices » by Charlotte M. Yonge
  • I couldn't begin to tell you all the bad things he did when he was a boy.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • The boy came forward, and examined the stranger with curiosity.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • "I wanted to be revenged on the boy, and now I know how," he said.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • She won't think much of a boy that has to pick berries for a living.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • It does not often fall to the lot of a boy to perform a deed so heroic.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • "It'll be the makings of the boy," he said to Mrs. Bines in her son's presence.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • I seen some hard times myself, and this boy's father was a fighter, too.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • When the boy got through, he cast a speculative glance at the carpetbag.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger

Synonyms for boy

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019