water boy

American  

noun

1. a person who carries a canteen or bucket of drinking water to those too occupied to fetch it, as to soldiers, laborers, or football players.

2. a person who sees that livestock is supplied with water, as by filling water troughs.

---

Etymology

Origin of water boy

First recorded in 1630–40

Example Sentences

If it was anyone else on Sunday behaving and performing like he did Erik ten Hag would have sent them to be the water boy for the under-18s!

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2024

Taylor, a junior defensive end, linebacker and tight end, served as a ball boy and water boy growing up.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 18, 2023

He drove the golf carts, acted as a water boy, and looked like he had a blast.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 2, 2023

Jonathan Ogden of St. Albans may be the best football player the region ever produced, but he played offensive tackle, a position about as likely to win the Heisman as water boy.

From Washington Post • Dec. 9, 2022

Rowdy was our star quarterback and kicker and middle linebacker, and I was the loser water boy, and we lost to Reardan by the score of 45-0.

From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie