old boy

American  

[ohld boi, ohld boi, ohld boi] / ˈoʊld ˈbɔɪ, ˈoʊld ˌbɔɪ, ˌoʊld ˈbɔɪ /

noun

1. Informal. an adult male, especially a Southerner.

2. a lively elderly man.

3. Chiefly British. an alumnus, especially of a boys' preparatory or public school.

4. Chiefly British. old chap.

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old boy British  

noun

1. (sometimes capitals) a male ex-pupil of a school

2. informal

   1. a familiar name used to refer to a man

   2. an old man

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Etymology

Origin of old boy

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

old boy

“We started telling each other ‘I love you’ last year,” one old boy says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026

At the end of 2023 a three year old boy, Olly Cartmill, became the smallest and one of the youngest, recipients of a kidney transplant.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2025

Mansfield old boy Alastair Smith has a clear sight of goal after Jordan Bowery is robbed of the ball by Jayden Fevrier as he tries to shepherd the ball out of play.

From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2024

“I just want to make sure I can make enough money to create a good life for my child,” said Yulia, a 26-year-old self-employed house cleaner and mother of a two-year old boy.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 8, 2024

But it means I had a chance to talk to an old boy I met last time, a gold miner called Jake Petersen.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman