Definition

1. Noun:
   • A male employee who operates an elevator: An "elevator boy" is a man or boy whose job is to operate an elevator, assist passengers, and often announce floors. This term is now dated and was more common in the early to mid-20th century.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The hotel's uniformed elevator boy greeted guests with a smile.
  • In the old movies, you often see an elevator boy asking, "Which floor, please?"

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Historical and Social Context: The term "elevator boy" reflects a specific historical period when elevator operation was a common entry-level service job, often performed by young men. The term is considered outdated and potentially demeaning in modern usage, as it emphasizes the youth and gender of the operator. The neutral terms "elevator operator" or "lift attendant" are preferred today.
• Regional Variation: In British English, the equivalent term was historically "liftman."

Variants and Related Words

• Elevator operator (n): The modern, gender-neutral term for a person who operates an elevator.
• Lift attendant (n): A term, particularly in British English, for a person who operates a lift (elevator).
• Liftman (n): The dated British English equivalent of "elevator boy."

Synonyms

• Elevator operator
• Lift attendant
• Liftman (British English)

Antonyms / Contrasting Roles

• Passenger: A person who uses the elevator but does not operate it.
• Maintenance engineer: A technician who repairs the elevator, rather than operates it for passengers.

Noun

1. a man employed to operate an elevator
   • in England they call an elevator man a liftman