Meaning of houseboi | Babel Free

Definitions

A domestic manservant, particularly colonial.

Examples

““‘Dear Chief: The bearer of this letter, Chow Lan Chu, my houseboi, is a great thief and steals whatever he can lay⟳ his hands on. […]’””

“[…] While still a pup, / You put⟳ him in a sack, then beat⟳ it / With a stick⟳. When howls and yelpings die⟳, / You send⟳ the houseboi out to set⟳ him free.”

“[…] he seduces his houseboi’s wife, his Mary, and fires the houseboi. […] ¶ “You’ve got no authority over my private life. What about your wife, she’s a bit on the dark side, isn't she?” ¶ “I didn’t steal⟳ my wife from my houseboi. And we’re legally married.””

“For most colonial wives, the houseboi, the domestic servant, was the first real contact⟳ with a native.”

CEFR level