Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “boylover” come from?

boylover (English) comes from English lover, from Middle English lovere, from Middle English loven, from Old English lofian, from Proto-Germanic *lobōn, from Proto-Germanic lubōną, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.

boylover (English): A pedophile or hebephile who is attracted to boys

Definitions

  1. A pedophile or hebephile who is attracted to boys

Ancestry of “boylover”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishloverOne who loves and cares for another person in a...
2Middle Englishlovere—
3Middle Englishlovento love
4Old Englishlofianto praise; exalt; to appraise; value; put a price...
5Proto-Germanic*lobōn—
6Proto-Germaniclubōnąto praise
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēw- →