busboy

noun

bus·​boy ˈbəs-ˌbȯi 

: 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

The former co-owner and wine director of New York City’s Pearl & Ash and Michelin-starred Rebelle, Cappiello headed to Sonoma in 2017, 40 years after beginning his first restaurant job as a dishwasher and busboy at the age of 15. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2024

The electrical engineer and former busboy Huang, who turned 61 earlier this week, was born in Taiwan and, at age 9, was sent with his brother to live with an uncle in Tacoma. —Jane Thier, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024

The clear hierarchical delineations, from owner Rashid (Oded Fehr) down to busboy Raton (Esteban Caicedo), make for a microcosmic distillation of America outside the walls of The Grill, replete with the frustrations of trying to move even one wrung up on the ladder. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024

Gutierrez learned English while working in restaurants, serving as a busboy, dishwasher and waiter, said daughter Rebecca Gutierrez. —Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024

Madonna and Grace Jones were nightclub nobility, and Mr. Tyler-Leonard climbed the ladder from busboy to go-go dancer to party promoter for Michael Alig, a legend at venues like the Limelight and the Tunnel. —Ronda Kaysen, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024

Only staffers who interact directly with customers—servers, busboys, runners—are considered food-service workers. —Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

omnibus busboy

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

busboy

noun

bus·​boy ˈbəs-ˌbȯi 

: a person employed in a restaurant to remove dirty dishes and set tables