old boy
Americannoun
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Informal. an adult male, especially a Southerner.
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a lively elderly man.
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Chiefly British. an alumnus, especially of a boys' preparatory or public school.
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Chiefly British. old chap.
noun
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(sometimes capitals) a male ex-pupil of a school
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informal
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a familiar name used to refer to a man
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an old man
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Etymology
Origin of old boy
First recorded in 1595–1605
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The old boy accepted, signing up his son as his assistant.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
Guto and Rhys, from Cardiff, said adopting their five-year old boy had brought joy to their lives.
From BBC • Oct. 20, 2024
“I’m glad I made it. The old boy upstairs took care of me,” he said, gesturing skyward.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 4, 2024
A five-year-old old boy died as a result of an accident after falling from a harbour wall in Padstow, a coroner has concluded.
From BBC • Jan. 3, 2024
Later I would see him at red-egg ceremonies when one-month- old boy babies were given their real names.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
