Green’s Dictionary of Slang

boyo n.

[SE boy + -o sfx (1)]

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

[UK] ‘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.
[UK]Manchester Courier 26 Sept. n.p.: ‘Why no, my boyo,’ answered the boatswain’s mate.
[UK]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.
[Ire]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?
[Ire]Flag of Ireland 26 Dec. 13/4: Faith, I am thinking you are to be Mr Monigal’s paymaster, my boyo.
[US]Rock Is. Argus (IL) 2 Nov. 7/2: And now, Boyo [...] there is clearly but one course for you to pursue.
[UK]‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin 233: There, there, me boy-o!
[Ire]S. O’Casey Juno and the Paycock Act I: Ah, then, me boyo.
[Aus](con. WWI) L. Mann Flesh in Armour 9: ‘Last night in the big smoke, boyo’.
[Ire]‘Flann O’Brien’ At Swim-Two-Birds 36: The old schoolmasters believed in the big stick. Oh, plenty of that boyo.
[Ire]‘Myles na gCopaleen’ Faustus Kelly in ‘Flann O’Brien’ Stories & Plays (1973) 124: They’d know how to handle you there, me boyo.
[UK]K. Amis letter 22 Mar. in Leader (2000) 231: Oh me boyo a fine time it’ll be and no doubt of it.
[UK]W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: Johnno’s got it in for you, boyo.
[UK]H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act III: That’s right, Nev boyo.
[US](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.
[Aus]J. Morrison Share House Blues 97: ‘You’ll never get first class honours with this, boyo’.
[UK]J. Campbell Gate Fever 115: I thought the best thing you can do, boyo, is go and find the police.
[UK]Guardian Guide 31 July–6 Aug. 23: This isn’t a record store, boyo, it’s an effing pub.
[Ire]F. Mac Anna Cartoon City 25: Heard the news boyo?
[US](con. 1973) C. Stella Johnny Porno 53: Down, boyo [...] It was a play slap, for Jesus sake.
[US]T. Robinson Rough Trade [ebook] ‘Think we’re well past a point where this can safely be called a “favor,” boyo?’.
[US](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.

[Ire]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’.
[UK]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.
[Ire]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.
[Ire]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.
[US]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.
[UK]P. Cheyney You Can Always Duck (1959) 11: There was nothin’ too bad to say about that boyo.
[UK]S.H. Bell December Bride 107: There’s a boyo for ye.
[UK]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?
[US]L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 136: Remarkably well-preserved, this boyo is.
[US]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.
[Ire]P. Quigley Borderland 158: ‘You’re some boyo,’ Petie leered.
[US]Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 76: The boyos will be doing their best [...] to brighten up a child’s Christmas in Wales.
[Aus]P. Temple Dead Point (2008) [ebook] Now, Jack, you’re in the legal line, the boyo says.
[Aus]S. Maloney Sucked In 89: A group of hyperactive boyos who were hogging the pool table.
[Scot]T. Black Gutted 10: Those Badger Protection boyos are paying top whack.
P. Temple ‘High Art’ in The Red Hand 39: ‘Where’s the boyo gone?’.
[UK]J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 174: Not as oafish as you might think, these silver-tongued boyos.

3. the penis.

[UK]Partridge DSUE (8th edn).