doughboy

noun

dough·​boy ˈdō-ˌbȯi How to pronounce doughboy (audio)
: an American infantryman especially in World War I

Examples of doughboy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In this massive operation, however, Allied commanders became uncertain of the location of the doughboys of the Lost Battalion, who soon fell under attack from both enemy German artillery, as well as friendly fire from the Americans. Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Nov. 2023 Look at the recent backlash against pop singer Róisín Murphy, who is about as threatening a figure as the Pillsbury doughboy. Bob Guccione Jr, Spin, 20 Sep. 2023 First developed in 1918, the M2 has been in steady service throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, remaining largely unchanged—to the point where a World War I-era doughboy could sit in front of a modern M2 and immediately know how to operate it. Popular Mechanics, 31 Aug. 2023 Many involved great artistry, such as the doughboy statutes, but even the more simple monuments were interesting and beautiful in their own right. Paul Eisenberg, chicagotribune.com, 14 Nov. 2021 The database also includes monuments that have disappeared, such as a doughboy — referencing the soldier outfit unique to World War I — statue that once graced Palmer Park on 111th Street in Chicago’s West Roseland neighborhood. Paul Eisenberg, chicagotribune.com, 14 Nov. 2021 Two doughboy statues on either side of the Confederate monument were targets later. Kyle Whitmire, al, 1 June 2020 At Funston more than several thousand doughboys sickened, dragging themselves to the camp hospital or infirmaries. Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Apr. 2020 Thousands of would-be doughboys and GIs were barred from service in the First and Second World Wars for failing to meet this standard. Charles C. Mann, The Atlantic, 17 Mar. 2020

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

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doughboy was in 1835

Dictionary Entries Near doughboy

Cite this Entry

“Doughboy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doughboy. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

doughboy

noun
dough·​boy ˈdō-ˌbȯi How to pronounce doughboy (audio)
: an American infantryman especially in World War I

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