Rude Boy
/ˈruːd bɔɪ/noun
A rebellious or stylish young man, especially in Jamaican and later British youth subcultures.
Did you know?The rude-boy subculture emerged in Jamaica during the late 1950s and 1960s, and its style later helped shape British ska and 2 Tone culture.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*rewdʰ-
“To break or make rough; a proposed root associated with Latin rudis.”
Classical Latin
Latin
rudis
“Raw, rough, untrained, or inexperienced.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
rude
“Rough, coarse, uncultivated, or discourteous.”
Old English to Middle English
English
boy / boi
“A male child or young male; the word’s deeper origin is uncertain, though it may have Germanic or Anglo-French connections.”
16th Century
English
rude boy
“A phrase literally describing an uncultivated or ill-mannered young male.”
1950s–1960s
Jamaican English
rude boy
“A rebellious working-class youth, often associated with street life, dancehall culture, and ska.”
Modern English
English
rude boy
“A rebellious, stylish young man or a member of related ska, reggae, or street-fashion subcultures.”