boy

boy (dated term for male servant)

noun BOY Less Common

Origin: English 'boy'

Usage Note

Boy is an English borrowing used in historical French colonial contexts for a male domestic servant or attendant. It carries strong colonial connotations and is considered offensive today. In contemporary French, the word survives mainly in historical texts or ironic usage — modern French uses employé de maison for domestic staff.

Examples

"Le boy apportait le petit-déjeuner."

Natural Translation

The servant brought breakfast.

Literal Translation

The boy brought the breakfast.

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