pretty-boy

The compound "pretty-boy" is a relatively modern English formation, combining two native English words with straightforward meanings. "Pretty" underwent a significant semantic shift from its original Old English sense of "cunning" or "crafty" to its predominant modern meaning of "attractive in a delicate way" by the 15th century. "Boy" has consistently denoted a young male. When combined, the term initially described an attractively handsome youth, but over time, particularly in the 20th century, it acquired a frequent derogatory connotation, implying vanity, weakness, or an excessive focus on superficial appearance over substance. The logic of the term is transparent, directly linking the literal descriptors to create a new, specific social label.

Structure: pretty (attractive) + boy (young male) pretty: From Old English prættig (crafty, cunning, tricky), of West Germanic origin. In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning pleasingly attractive. boy: From Middle English boy, boi, of uncertain origin, possibly from Old French embuié (fettered) or from a Germanic root. It functions as a noun meaning a young male person.