1. A boy or young man employed in a tavern or public house to serve drinks and perform menial tasks.
Usage: chiefly British; historical

Examples

• The potboy hurried between tables, collecting empty glasses and refilling tankards.
• In 18th-century England, a potboy was often a young apprentice learning the trade of innkeeping.
• The tavern keeper hired a new potboy to help during the busy evening hours.
• As a potboy, he earned modest wages but gained valuable experience in hospitality.