Definition

A young man or boy who works in a bar or pub, serving drinks and helping with various tasks.

Example

The potboy quickly delivered the drinks to the customers at the bar.

Conversation

Did you see that new place downtown?

Yeah, I heard it's run by a young potboy who used to work at the old pub.

That's interesting! I wonder if he serves good drinks.

I've heard great things, especially about their cocktails.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Potboy → The word is formed from "pot" (from Old English *pott*, meaning a container or vessel) and "boy" (from Old English *bōia*, meaning a young male). A potboy originally referred to a young male servant who worked in a kitchen, often responsible for handling pots and cooking vessels.

Memory Tip

Think of a young male ('boy') who works with cooking containers ('pot') — that's why a potboy is a kitchen helper.

Visually Confused Words