English Lexicon

Butcher's Boy

/ˈbʊtʃərz bɔɪ/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #15000 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A young boy or apprentice who assists a butcher in the preparation and sale of meat.

    "The butcher's boy was busy delivering fresh cuts of meat to the local market."
  2. 2

    A term sometimes used to refer to a boy who is involved in rough or mischievous behavior, often associated with the working class.

    "He was known as the butcher's boy, always getting into trouble with his friends."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'butcher's boy' originates from the Middle English 'butcher', derived from the Old French 'bouchier', which itself comes from 'bouche', meaning 'mouth'. Historically, it referred to a young apprentice or assistant in a butcher's shop, evolving to denote a specific role within the meat trade.

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