powder-boyn.
/ˈpaʊdəbɔɪ/, U.S. /ˈpaʊdərˌbɔɪ/ Now historical.
= powder monkey n. 1b.
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society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > seafaring warrior or naval man > [noun] > powder-boy
powder monkey1660
powder-boy1744
powderman1859
1744 M. Bishop Life Matthew Bishop iv. 21 I loaded twelve Times the eleventh Gun... And would have loaded more, had not I been prevented, by a Cannon Ball which cut our Powder Boy almost in two.
1805 in R. Polwhele Trad. & Recoll. (1826) II. 577 I acted both in the capacity of a commanding officer, mate, midship~man, small-arm-man, and powder-boy.
1866 Ordnance Instr. U.S. Navy 17 To the XI, X, and IX-inch 100-pounder rifle, and 64-pounder pivot guns, a Powderman, and to all other guns a Powder-boy is to be added.
a1891 H. Melville Billy Budd xxii, in Wks. (1924) XIII. 101 Boat and booms making a summit of observation for the powder-boys and younger tars.
1953 R. A. Billington Jrnl. Charlotte L. Forten Introd. 6 He received a fragmentary education..before volunteering as powder boy aboard a Philadelphia privateer.
1994 P. O'Brian Commodore (1996) v. 153 From an early hour Mr. Meares..powder-boys and Marines had been titivating their pieces.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1744