boy

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰā-
2. Proto-Germanic*bō-
3. Proto-West Germanic*bōjō
4. Old English*bōia
5. Middle Englishboye
6. English todayboy

From Middle English boy /boye (“servant, commoner, knave, boy”), from Old English *bōia (“boy”), from Proto-West Germanic *bōjō, from Proto-Germanic *bōjô (“younger brother, young male relation”), from Proto-Germanic *bō- (“brother, close male relation”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰā-, *bʰāt- (“father, elder brother, brother”). Cognate with Scots boy (“boy”), West Frisian boai (“boy”), Dutch boi (“boy”), Low German Boi (“boy”), and probably to the Old English proper name Bōia. Also related to Saterland Frisian Bouge (“boy”), West Flemish boe (“brother”), Norwegian dialectal boa (“brother”), Dutch boef (“rogue, knave”), Bavarian Bua (“young boy, lad”), German Bube ("boy; knave; jack"; > English bub), Icelandic bófi (“rogue, crook, bandit, knave”), Lombard bagaj ("boy"; (< Germanic)). See also bully.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. A male child.
• from 17th c. A male human younger than the speaker.
• 14th–17th c. A male of low station, (especially as pejorative) a worthless male, a wretch; a mean and dishonest male, a knave.
• from 14th c. A male servant, slave, assistant, or employee, particularly
• from 14th c. A younger such worker.
• from 14th c. A non-white male servant regardless of age, particularly as a form of address.
• from 14th c. A male camp follower.
• from 19th c. Any non-white male, regardless of age.