Definition

A male servant who works in a household, often responsible for various tasks such as cleaning, cooking, or taking care of the home.

Example

The houseboy helped with the chores around the house every day.

Conversation

Did you hear about the new houseboy that moved in next door?

Yeah, I saw him helping with the yard work yesterday.

I wonder if he does any other chores around the house.

That could be handy! It'd be nice to have someone help out.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Houseboy → The word is formed from "house" (from Old English *hus*, meaning a dwelling or shelter) and "boy" (from Old English *bōia*, meaning a young male). The term "houseboy" refers to a young male servant or helper in a household.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'house' as a place where people live and a 'boy' as a young male — together, a houseboy is a young male who helps in a household.

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