busboy

noun

bus·​boy ˈbəs-ˌbȯi How to pronounce busboy (audio)
: a waiter's assistant
specifically : one who removes dirty dishes and resets tables in a restaurant

Examples of busboy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Owner Bruno Garcia – who worked his way up in the industry, starting as a busboy – believes the tip system benefits everyone. Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Sep. 2023 On Friday and Saturday nights, after his shift as a busboy ended at Ah Fong in Encino, Yamazaki would hop in his 1954 Chevy Bel Air and head to the Ash Grove, the celebrated roots music venue on Melrose Avenue, and take in such musicians as Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. John McMurtrie, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2023 As quotes from Drescher’s speech flooded social media, many resurrected a clip from her show’s second season, in which Drescher cemented her status as a labor icon when her character refused to walk into one of her boss’s lavish parties because the busboys were striking outside. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 14 July 2023 After the 1943 riots, the New York Times ran a story that purported to track the first ever zoot suit to a busboy in Gainesville, Ga. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2023 Except for restaurateur Vanderpump, all are current or former servers, hostesses, busboys or bartenders at her SUR and Pump restaurants. Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023 In June, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed into law a bill that allows 14-year-old busboys to clear tables where liquor is served and expands from 30 to 35 the number of hours 16- and 17-year-olds may work during the school year. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 28 Feb. 2023 Kilicoglu got a job as a busboy. Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Oct. 2021 The Beastie Boys and Keith Haring were busboys. Katie Bain, Billboard, 15 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'busboy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

omnibus busboy

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of busboy was in 1901

Dictionary Entries Near busboy

Cite this Entry

“Busboy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/busboy. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

busboy

noun
bus·​boy ˈbəs-ˌbȯi How to pronounce busboy (audio)
: a person employed in a restaurant to remove dirty dishes and set tables

More from Merriam-Webster on busboy

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