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n. 1. A male child. 2. A son: his youngest boy. 3. Often Offensive A man, especially a young man. 4. Informal A man socializing in a group of men: a night out with the boys. 5. Offensive A male servant or employee. interj. Used to express mild astonishment, elation, or disgust: Oh boy—what a surprise! [Middle English boi, male servant, churl, young male, possibly from Old French embuié, person in fetters, from past participle of embuier, to fetter, from buie, fetter, shackle, from Latin bōia, collar or yoke used to restrain criminals, probably from Greek boeiā (dorā), (skin) of an ox, an ox hide (such restraints being made from ox hide), from feminine of boeios, of an ox or oxen, of ox hide, from bous, ox; see gwou- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] boyhood′ n. |
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