Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a womanizer; the term is often used (esp. by women) ironically.

1950		R. Starnes Another Mug for the Bier 67: ‘The Carlton at four o’clock this afternoon,’ I said. Anne sighed and said O.K. lover boy.
1963		F. Kohner Affairs of Gidget 69: Your lover boy [...] That real doll of a second lieutenant.
1974		‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 93: It gave her an excuse to phone lover-boy.
1982		M. Braun Judas Tree (1983) 17: You’re not fooling anybody, lover-man.
1986		H. Selby Jr Song of the Silent Snow (1988) 69: Give lover boy a beer.
1997		(con. 1950s) J. Byrne Slab Boys [film script] 53: Lover boy ... he jist went oot.
2000		S. Maloney Big Ask 41: Lover boy caught me watching and tried to stare me out.

2. (US gay/teen) a boyfriend; homosexual and heterosexual use.

1964		H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn 43: Georgette [...] fluttered her lids when he said hello sweetchips, whereya been? O, Ive been balling it loverman.
1965		A. James America’s Homosexual Underground 124: Interrupting rehearsals to telephone and make sure that lover-boy is being faithful, staying at home and watering the plants.
1972		M. Rodgers Freaky Friday 11: What’ll it be for you, lover boy?
1988		(con. 1940s) C. Bram Hold Tight (1990) 203: ‘They arrested your loverboy back there.’ ‘He ain’t no loverboy. He just likes to get fucked.’.