the old boy

1 definition found

the old boy - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Boy \Boy\, n. [Cf. D. boef, Fries. boi, boy; akin to G. bube,
     Icel. bofi rouge.]
     1. A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad;
        hence, a son.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee. --Sir
                                                    W. Scott.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Boy is often used as a term of comradeship, as in
           college, or in the army or navy. In the plural used
           colloquially of members of an associaton, fraternity,
           or party.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. In various countries, a male servant, laborer, or slave of
        a native or inferior race; also, any man of such a race;
        -- considered derogatory by those so called, and now
        seldom used. [derog.]
  
              He reverted again and again to the labor difficulty,
              and spoke of importing boys from Capetown. --Frances
                                                    Macnab.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     Boy bishop, a boy (usually a chorister) elected bishop, in
        old Christian sports, and invested with robes and other
        insignia. He practiced a kind of mimicry of the ceremonies
        in which the bishop usually officiated.
  
     The Old Boy, the Devil. [Slang]
  
     Yellow boys, guineas. [Slang, Eng.]
  
     Boy's love, a popular English name of Southernwood
        (Artemisia abrotonum); -- called also lad's love.
  
     Boy's play, childish amusements; anything trifling.
        [1913 Webster]