loblolly boy

noun

, Obsolete.

1. an assistant to the surgeon on board a ship.

loblolly boy

noun

1. navy (formerly) a boy or man acting as a medical orderly on board ship

Word History and Origins

Origin of loblolly boy¹

First recorded in 1740–50

Word History and Origins

Origin of loblolly boy¹

C18: from loblolly sense 2, applied to a ship's doctor's medicines

Example Sentences

A loblolly boy, therefore, was the surgeon's assistant who did the feeding.

From BBC

For example, new words like loblolly boy and how ships were designed in the 1680s.

From The Guardian

I was ably assisted, however, in my arduous duties, which, by the way, occupied me very nearly half an hour every morning, after, not before, breakfast, by the loblolly boy “Sugar o’ Lead.”

From Project Gutenberg

Nero’s life on board this particular ship was a very happy one, for everybody loved him, from the captain downwards to the little loblolly boy who washed the bottles, spread the plasters, and made the poultices.

From Project Gutenberg

I laid my hand on the rope, and together we drew the loblolly boy upward and out under the blue of heaven.

From Project Gutenberg