boot boy

boot boy

See also: bootboy and boot-boy

English

Alternative forms

• boot-boy

Etymology

boot +‎ boy

Noun

boot boy (plural boot boys)

1. (C19 Britain) A boy who cleans boots and shoes.
2. (1970s Britain slang) One of a gang of violent hooligans who usually wear short-cropped hair and bovver boots.
   • 28 June 2013, Irish Independent, Shatter urges ex-FF ministers to reveal contacts with Anglo:

     "He's acting like a political thug and a political boot boy in a party political fashion."

3. (Britain) A boy who cares for a footballer's boots.
   • 22 March 2009, The Guardian, Gunn peppers Birmingham's automatic promotion hopes:

     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.

Synonyms

• bovver boy
• hooligan
• skinhead

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 2013.
• “boot boy” in the Collins English Dictionary, Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers.