Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
linkboy

linkboy

1 9.9
A boy who carries a lamp to light the way for people at night
  • noun
  • Archaic
: portador de antorcha
  • In the 19th century, streets in London were often illuminated by linkboys, who carried lanterns to guide pedestrians safely at night.

Examples

  • Link: torches carried by "linkboys," who ran ahead of a carriage to light its way through the city streets at night.

    Blog text (30)

  • London would still be lighted by linkboys.

    Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

  • During the evening, the linkboy expertly led the way through the dark alley with his bright torch.

  • The linkboys were a common sight in the city, providing important assistance to travelers after sunset.

Synonyms

torcher
vslinkboy
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A person who carries a burning stick during a ceremony

is for guiding pedestrians at night through streets rather than ceremonial use
linkman
vslinkboy
  • Archaic
9.9

A person in old times who carries a torch to light and guide people on dark streets

is a younger hired worker rather than an adult guide
lanternist
vslinkboy
  • Archaic
9.8

A person who carries a lantern to light the way at events

is for guiding pedestrians at night through streets rather than events

Surface Forms

linkboy singular
linkboys plural

Morphology

linkboy = link + boy (opaque) = link + boy

Although structurally a compound of 'link' + 'boy', the sense of 'link' as 'torch' is archaic and not recoverable by an average learner from modern meanings.

Etymology

Linkboy comes from the old English word link meaning 'a small torch' and boy, because young men were paid to carry a light for people at night. So a linkboy was literally a boy who would 'light the way' for pedestrians in dark streets.