Schoolboys

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of male students attending an educational institution, typically primary or secondary level
2. young males who engage in learning and academic activities at a school
3. boys who participate in sports, social events, or other extracurricular activities within a school setting

Etymology: "Schoolboys" is the plural of "schoolboy," and the plain facts are that the singular is a compound of "school" and "boy," with nothing hidden in the joining. "School" came into English from Latin "schola," which was borrowed from Greek "skholē," meaning leisure, and "boy" is a native English word whose origin is uncertain. Put together, the compound simply names a boy who attends school. The plural adds nothing beyond the usual pluralising of a countable noun, so its history is that of the singular. The compound is transparent, and its meaning in the sense given here, boys taking part in sports and clubs, is a natural extension of the basic sense of a pupil.

Synonyms: students, pupils, scholars