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  • Teddy boy
    Teddy boy
    noun
    a rebellious British youth who, in the 1950s and early 1960s, affected the dress of the reign of Edward VII.
  • teddy boy
    teddy boy
    noun
    (in Britain, esp in the mid-1950s) one of a cult of youths who wore mock Edwardian fashions, such as tight narrow trousers, pointed shoes, and long sideboards

Teddy boy

American  

noun

(often lowercase)
  1. a rebellious British youth who, in the 1950s and early 1960s, affected the dress of the reign of Edward VII.


teddy boy British  

noun

  1. Often shortened to: ted.  (in Britain, esp in the mid-1950s) one of a cult of youths who wore mock Edwardian fashions, such as tight narrow trousers, pointed shoes, and long sideboards

  2. any tough or delinquent youth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of teddy boy

C20: from Teddy, from Edward, referring to the Edwardian dress

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.

He’s a man of stealth and taste, a smooth talker out of 1960s London who dresses like a Teddy boy and seduces with buttery brashness.

From New York Times • Feb. 5, 2018

In 1972 Mr. McLaren and Ms. Westwood took over a store on the King’s Road in Chelsea called Let It Rock and began selling hipster Teddy boy fashions.

From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2010

Cleverly, Author Wilson both evokes and deplores the spirit that may find words among intellectuals and find action in the Teddy boy.

From Time Magazine Archive

A Teddy boy showed up for the pre-induction physical wearing a truss borrowed from a friend.

From Time Magazine Archive

"It's been a good partnership, Teddy boy," he said.

From The Tidal Wave and Other Stories by Dell, Ethel M. (Ethel May)