ETYM Cf. Dutch boef, Fries. boi, boy; akin to German bube, Icel. bofi rouge.
(Homonym: buoy).
1. A friendly informal reference to a grown man.
2. Offensive term for Black man.

ETYM Old Eng. ladde, of Celtic origin; cf. w. llawd, Irish lath. Related to Lass.
1. A boy; a youth.
2. A companion; a comrade; a mate.

ETYM Dim. of strip; as if a small strip from the main stock or steam.
A youth in the state of adolescence, or just passing from boyhood to manhood.