yellow boy
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A gold coin; a guinea or sovereign.
Register: archaic, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
“Damn them, (cried the commodore) I wish both their necks were broke, thof the two cost me forty good yellow-boys.” “Forty guineas! (exclaimed the stranger […]).”
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Iron(III) hydroxide, a yellow-orange solid found in acidic water from mining projects.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
Synonym of goldback (“kind of gold certificate”).
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “yellow boy” mean?
A gold coin; a guinea or sovereign.
Is “yellow boy” formal or informal?
yellow boy is generally archaic, slang.