callboy

English

Alternative forms

• call boy, call-boy

Etymology

From call +‎ boy.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

callboy (plural callboys)

1. (euphemistic) A male prostitute.
2. (dated) A bellhop.
3. (theater) A boy or man who summons actors when their presence is required for a performance.
4. (Philippines, slang) A public transport barker (a man, who for a fee, calls out the destination of jeepneys and buses)
5. (humorous) A man who works as a call center agent. (see usage notes)
6. A youth employed to wake people up for work.
   • 2010, David Hunt, Era of Steam Engines, Volume 1, Chapter 3, Being a Callboy, Lulu.com:

     It was exciting being a callboy, riding a pushbike in all directions in Fremantle City, waking-up the engine-crews for work.

Usage notes

• Only when referring to oneself or to friends and colleagues in the call center industry.

Descendants

• → Cebuano: callboy

Translations

a boy or man who summons actors

See also

• call girl

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.
• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.
• Zorc, R. David, San Miguel, Rachel (1993) Tagalog Slang Dictionary, Manila: De La Salle University Press, →ISBN, page 28

Cebuano

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English callboy.

Noun

callboy

1. a male prostitute
2. (humorous) a man who works as a call center agent (see usage notes)

Usage notes

• Only when referring to oneself or to friends and colleagues in the call center industry.

Coordinate terms

• call girl