Boy Scout

noun

1. a member of an organization of boys BoyScouts, founded in England in 1908 by Lieutenant General Sir Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, that seeks to develop certain skills in its members, as well as character, self-reliance, and usefulness to others.

2. (lowercase),  a member of any similar society elsewhere.

3. (lowercase),  a person whose deeds, obliging personality, idealism, etc., exceed normal expectations.

boy scout

noun

1. See Scout

2. informal,  an apparently virtuous and innocent person

Sensitive Note

Use of boy scout to mean “someone who is obliging and idealistic” usually implies that the person is naive or unworldly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Boy Scout¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

It was a long fall for the mall, which opened in 1977, featuring performances by the Hawthorne High School Band and a local Boy Scout color guard.

From Los Angeles Times

This is how he ended up telling a crowd of Boy Scouts that he used to know William Levitt, a prominent 20th century real estate developer none of them know about.

From Salon

It was fitting that he was rescued by Boy Scouts in the mountains so close to home.

From Los Angeles Times

The chimney was located atop a former Boy Scouts meeting house currently used as public works department storage, according to Salcedo.

From Los Angeles Times

The on-screen Blue Boy Scout conveyed a Smallville-bred sense of humility throughout, saying he almost didn’t take the role of Superman for fear of being too busy to help with a newborn.

From Salon