noun
- plural of potboy; boys or young men employed in a tavern or public house to serve drinks and perform menial tasks
Usage: chiefly British; historical; archaic
Examples
- The potboys at the inn rushed about carrying tankards of ale to the patrons.
- In Victorian England, potboys were common fixtures in public houses and taverns.
- The landlord hired several potboys to handle the busy evening crowd.
- Young potboys learned the trade by working long hours in crowded bars.