Etymograph

English

boyfriend

From boy + friend.

A compound of boy + friend

Proto-Indo-European *bʰā-

…

Proto-Germanic *bōjô ‘younger brother’

Proto-West Germanic *bōjō

Old English *bōia ‘boy’

Middle English boye ‘servant, commoner, knave, boy’

English boy

Proto-Indo-European *preyH- ‘to please’

Proto-Germanic *frijōndz ‘friend’

Proto-West Germanic *friund

Old English frēond

Middle English freend

English friend

Today it means

noun A male partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / boyfriend