Where does “boy” come from?
Boy comes from Middle English boye, from Middle Dutch boeye, from Old French boie, from Latin boia, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots related to cattle and livestock.
boy (English): A young male; A male child: a son of any age; A...
Definitions
- A young male; A male child: a son of any age; A...
Ancestry of “boy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | boye | servant, commoner, knave, boy |
| 2 | Old English | bōia | boy |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | bōjô | younger brother, young male relation |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | bō- | A stem meaning "father, brother, close male... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰā- | to say |