ME boi meant 'churl, servant' and (rarely) 'devil.' In texts, the meaning 'male child' does not antedate 1400. In Old English, only the proper name Boia has been recorded. Boy-crazy 'eager to associate with males' is from 1923. Boy-meets-girl 'typical of a conventional romance' is from 1945 the phrase itself is from 1934 as a dramatic formula. Emphatic exclamation oh, boy is attested by 1917. Extended form boyo is attested from 1870. Meaning 'male negro slave or Asian personal servant of any age' attested from c. In some local uses 'a man,' without reference to age (OED lists 'in Cornwall, in Ireland, in the far West of the U.S.'). For a different conjecture: Used slightingly of young men in Middle English, also in familiar or contemptuous use of criminal toughs or men in the armed services. This suggests a gradational relationship to babe. Possibly from Old French embuie 'one fettered,' from Vulgar Latin *imboiare, from Latin boia 'leg iron, yoke, leather collar,' from Greek boeiai dorai 'ox hides.' (Words for 'boy' double as 'servant, attendant' across the Indo-European map - compare Italian ragazzo, French garГ§on, Greek pais, Middle English knave, Old Church Slavonic otroku - and often it is difficult to say which meaning came first.)Д«ut it also appears to be identical with East Frisian boi 'young gentleman,' and perhaps with Dutch boef 'knave,' from Middle Dutch boeve, perhaps from Middle Low German buobe. as 'male child before puberty' (possibly an extended sense from the 'urchin' one). 1300, 'rascal, ruffian, knave urchin,' mid-14c. Mid-13c., boie 'servant, commoner, knave' (generally young and male) c.

Where did the term busboy come from