Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a term of address, usu. Welsh, Irish or clichéd; often as my boyo.

1837		‘Nights At Sea’ in Bentley’s Misc. June 624: But, take care, my boyo, you arn’t conwincetecated some o’ these here odd times, when you least expects it.
1840		Manchester Courier 26 Sept. n.p.: ‘Why no, my boyo,’ answered the boatswain’s mate.
1843		Bell’s New Wkly Messenger 15 Jan. 7/3: The onlooky day whin my boy-o there kem across wid his sootherin’ ways and blareyin’ thricks.
1864		Clare Jrnl 11 July 3/2: Well, my Boyo, so you went to Mr Patt O’Connor’s to by [sic] a serviceable, cheap spotted handkerchief?
1885		Flag of Ireland 26 Dec. 13/4: Faith, I am thinking you are to be Mr Monigal’s paymaster, my boyo.
1912		Rock Is. Argus (IL) 2 Nov. 7/2: And now, Boyo [...] there is clearly but one course for you to pursue.
1916		‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin 233: There, there, me boy-o!
1925		S. O’Casey Juno and the Paycock Act I: Ah, then, me boyo.
1932		(con. WWI) L. Mann Flesh in Armour 9: ‘Last night in the big smoke, boyo’.
1939		‘Flann O’Brien’ At Swim-Two-Birds 36: The old schoolmasters believed in the big stick. Oh, plenty of that boyo.
1943		‘Myles na gCopaleen’ Faustus Kelly in ‘Flann O’Brien’ Stories & Plays (1973) 124: They’d know how to handle you there, me boyo.
1950		K. Amis letter 22 Mar. in Leader (2000) 231: Oh me boyo a fine time it’ll be and no doubt of it.
1959		W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: Johnno’s got it in for you, boyo.
1962		H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act III: That’s right, Nev boyo.
1977		(con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 248: You go to Catalina for the day, boyo, and I’ll toss you a Welcome Home Dinner, too.
1985		J. Morrison Share House Blues 97: ‘You’ll never get first class honours with this, boyo’.
1986		J. Campbell Gate Fever 115: I thought the best thing you can do, boyo, is go and find the police.
1999		Guardian Guide 31 July–6 Aug. 23: This isn’t a record store, boyo, it’s an effing pub.
2000		F. Mac Anna Cartoon City 25: Heard the news boyo?
2010		(con. 1973) C. Stella Johnny Porno 53: Down, boyo [...] It was a play slap, for Jesus sake.
2016		T. Robinson Rough Trade [ebook] ‘Think we’re well past a point where this can safely be called a “favor,” boyo?’.
2020		(con. 1991-94) W. Boyle City of Margins 146: ‘Don’t let the dough come between us, boyo’.

2. (also boyoh) a man; sometimes used of an object.

1879		C.J. Kickham Knocknagow 352: That particular piece of finery which [...] seemed to have excited Peg Brady’s indignation when ‘indeed she see her goin’’ to Ned Brophy’s wedding, and which Peg designated her ‘boy-o’.
1904		G.B. Shaw John Bull’s Other Island IV i: Dhere was Patsy Farrll in the back sate wi dhe pig between his knees, n me bould English boyoh in front at the machinery.
1914		Joyce ‘Gracer’ Dubliners (1956) 161: If you want a thing well done and no flies about, you go to a Jesuit. They’re the boyos have influence.
1925		S. O’Casey Juno and the Paycock Act I: We’re Dublin men, an’ not boyos that’s only afther comin’ up from the bog o’ Allen.
c.1930		N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 173: Every respectable city or town has a knowing, greedy set of police officers, political boyos – boyos is Irish for bold lads – who demand a cut.
1943		P. Cheyney You Can Always Duck (1959) 11: There was nothin’ too bad to say about that boyo.
1951		S.H. Bell December Bride 107: There’s a boyo for ye.
1964		P. Terson Night to Make the Angels Weep (1967) I ix: Mean, I call the boyo what I like but he’s still the same feller ent he?
1973		L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 136: Remarkably well-preserved, this boyo is.
1982		G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 60: I doubt very much that any of these boyos in here now are very much afraid of Mayes.
1994		P. Quigley Borderland 158: ‘You’re some boyo,’ Petie leered.
2000		Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 76: The boyos will be doing their best [...] to brighten up a child’s Christmas in Wales.
2000		P. Temple Dead Point (2008) [ebook] Now, Jack, you’re in the legal line, the boyo says.
2007		S. Maloney Sucked In 89: A group of hyperactive boyos who were hogging the pool table.
2009		T. Black Gutted 10: Those Badger Protection boyos are paying top whack.
2019		P. Temple ‘High Art’ in The Red Hand 39: ‘Where’s the boyo gone?’.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 174: Not as oafish as you might think, these silver-tongued boyos.

3. the penis.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn).