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Definition of doughboy

doughboy

/ˈdoʊˌbɔɪ/
dough · boy
Plural:doughboys
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doughboy Lexical Profile

doughboy Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American An informal historical nickname for a United States infantryman, especially one who served during World War I.

Example

"The museum exhibit featured letters written home by a young American doughboy stationed in France."

2

American A small, round dumpling or flattened piece of bread dough fried in deep fat or boiled in soup, commonly served sprinkled with sugar or cinnamon.

Example

"We bought warm doughboys dusted with powdered sugar from a vendor at the county fair."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for doughboy

• Rhymes for doughboy

• Nearby Words

douchey
dough
doughball
doughboy
doughnut
doughy
douglas fir

Word Origin & Etymology

Originally 17th-century nautical slang for a boiled flour dumpling, the term was later applied to United States infantrymen during the Mexican-American War and World War I, likely referencing either the globular brass buttons on their uniforms or the pipe-clay dust covering them during marches.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Doughboy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/doughboy
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