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noun

houseboy

HOWS-boy
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Houseboy (noun) means a young male servant employed to do domestic work in a household. Example: “The houseboy brought tea to the veranda each morning.”

noun
1
A young male servant employed to do domestic work in a household.
"The houseboy brought tea to the veranda each morning."

How to use houseboy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA male domestic servant, a term now dated and associated with colonial-era households.

When to use it

Historical and, in some contexts, considered offensive; largely avoided in modern usage.

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Word forms

Plural
houseboys
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ brought tea to the veranda each morning.

Etymology

From house + boy.

Rhymes for houseboy

See all rhymes for houseboy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “houseboy” mean?
The word “houseboy” means a young male servant employed to do domestic work in a household. In plain terms, a male domestic servant, a term now dated and associated with colonial-era households.
How do you pronounce “houseboy”?
“Houseboy” is pronounced HOWS-boy (/ˈhaʊsbɔɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “houseboy” in a sentence?
Here is “houseboy” used in a sentence: “The houseboy brought tea to the veranda each morning.”
What part of speech is “houseboy”?
“Houseboy” is a noun.