boy
Preserved but no longer current.
Also seen as: boi
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “boy” mean?
A hump on a man’s back. In low circles it is usual to speak of a humpbacked man as two persons—"him and his BOY," and from this much coarse fun and personality are at times evolved.
Is “boy” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.