bell-boy

A bell-boy carries a guest's luggage to their hotel room.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Hotel employee: A "bell-boy" is a male employee in a hotel who assists guests by carrying luggage, running errands, or delivering messages. The term originates from the practice of summoning such an employee by ringing a bell.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The bell-boy carried our suitcases to the room. (The hotel employee helped with luggage.)
  • She rang the bell for a bell-boy to bring extra towels. (She summoned the hotel assistant.)

Advanced Usage

• "bell-boy service": A service provided by a hotel where a bell-boy is available to assist guests.
  • The hotel offers complimentary bell-boy service for all guests. (Free assistance with luggage and tasks is provided.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bellhop (n): An alternative term for a bell-boy, commonly used in American English.

  • The bellhop greeted us at the entrance. (The hotel employee welcomed us.)

• Bell captain (n): The supervisor of bell-boys in a hotel.

  • The bell captain assigned a bell-boy to our floor. (The supervisor delegated tasks.)

Synonyms

• Porter: A person employed to carry luggage, especially at hotels or train stations.
• Concierge: A hotel employee who assists guests with services, though their role is broader than that of a bell-boy.

Related Idioms

• "Ring for the bell-boy": To summon a hotel employee by ringing a bell.
  • He rang for the bell-boy to fetch his car from valet parking. (He requested assistance via a bell signal.)

Additional Notes

• The term "bell-boy" is less common in modern usage, having been largely replaced by gender-neutral terms like "bellhop" or "bell attendant." However, it remains in use in some traditional or older hotels.