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.

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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

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

From Seattle Times • Oct. 2, 2023

When he was 12, Mr. Poitier quit school and became a water boy for a crew of pick-and-shovel laborers.

From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2022

Mookie Betts’ prowess as a water boy in high school came in handy this past week when he was sidelined from the Dodgers because of a finger injury.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2020

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