English

edit

Etymology

edit

Originally from Japanese 官庁 (kanchō, government office) +‎ boy, borrowed in during WW2 according to Potet (2016), but the former eventually got replaced with Tagalog kanto (corner, especially of two streets).

Noun

edit

kanto boy (plural kanto boys)

  1. (Philippines, slang) An office boy.

See also

edit

Further reading

edit
  • Potet, Jean-Paul G. (2016) Tagalog Borrowings and Cognates, Lulu Press, →ISBN, page 343

Tagalog

edit

Etymology

edit

Borrowed from English kanto boy, from Tagalog kanto (corner, especially of two streets) +‎ boy. According to Potet (2016), the former term *kanto was originally from Japanese 官庁(かんちょう) (kanchō, government office), borrowed in during WW2. The word was reinterpreted to mean office corner.

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

kanto boy (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜈ᜔ᜆᜓ ᜊᜓᜌ᜔) (vulgar, slang)

  1. bum; deadbeat; loafer; idler
    Synonyms: palaboy, tambay
  2. (humorous) office boy
edit

Further reading

edit
  • Potet, Jean-Paul G. (2016) Tagalog Borrowings and Cognates, Lulu Press, →ISBN, page 343
  • Zorc, R. David, San Miguel, Rachel (1993) Tagalog Slang Dictionary, Manila: De La Salle University Press, →ISBN, page 72