boot boy

See also: bootboy and boot-boy

English

Alternative forms

• boot-boy

Etymology

boot +‎ boy

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

boot boy (plural boot boys)

1. (C19 British) A boy who cleans boots and shoes.
2. (1970s British slang) One of a gang of violent hooligans who usually wear short-cropped hair and bovver boots.

   Synonyms: bovver boy, hooligan, skinhead

   • 2013 June 28, Fiach Kelly, Lise Hand, Fionnan Sheahan, quoting Niall Collins, “Shatter urges ex-FF ministers to reveal contacts with Anglo”, in Irish Independent‎^[1]:

     He's [Enda Kenny] acting like a political thug and a political boot boy in a party political fashion.

3. (British, soccer) A boy who cares for a footballer's boots.
   • 2009 March 22, Phil Shaw, “Gunn peppers Birmingham's automatic promotion hopes”, in The Guardian‎^[2]:

     Among Bryan Gunn's myriad incarnations, from Alex Ferguson's babysitter through Scotland goalkeeper to Norwich manager, boot boy to Alex McLeish was one of the less successful. Once, just before a Scottish Cup final, McLeish discovered his size 10s were still in Aberdeen.

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 2013.
• “boot boy”, in Collins English Dictionary.