Man Friday
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The young savage found by Robinson Crusoe on a Friday, and kept as his servant and companion on the desert island; hence, a faithful and willing attendant, ready to turn his hand to anything.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Man Friday” mean?
The young savage found by Robinson Crusoe on a Friday, and kept as his servant and companion on the desert island; hence, a faithful and willing attendant, ready to turn his hand to anything.
Is “Man Friday” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.