What does busboy mean?
A busboy is a restaurant employee whose main job is clearing dirty dishes, glassware, and linens from tables after diners leave, wiping surfaces, and resetting the table so it is ready for the next guests. Busboys also assist waiters by refilling water, delivering food to tables, and keeping service areas tidy. The term is primarily North American; elsewhere such workers may be called commis waiters or bussers, a newer gender-neutral alternative that many modern restaurants now favor over the traditionally male-coded title. The word combines 'bus' — itself shortened from 'omnibus,' Latin for 'for all' — with 'boy,' giving it an etymological link to public transport vocabulary. Though often an entry-level position, the role is widely seen as a classic first job and a stepping stone within the restaurant industry, carrying connotations of hard work rather than prestige.
nounA restaurant employee who clears dirty dishes from tables, resets them, and assists the waiting staff.
- A restaurant worker who removes used dishes, glassware, and linens from tables and helps reset them between customers.
"The busboy cleared our plates quickly and refilled the water glasses without being asked."
"She started out as a busboy at a diner before working her way up to head chef."
"The busboy quietly wiped down the table and set out fresh silverware for the next guests."
Standard English plural.
"The restaurant hired two new busboys for the weekend rush."
The 'bus' in busboy comes from the same word that gave us omnibus — it literally means the one who carries things for everyone else.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of busboy
The word 'busboy' arose in American English in the late 19th or early 20th century, combining 'bus' — a shortening of 'omnibus,' from Latin meaning 'for all' — with 'boy.' In restaurant slang of the era, 'to bus' meant to clear or attend to tables, so a busboy was literally the one who 'bussed' the tables. The related term 'busser' developed later as a gender-neutral variant.
How busboy is actually used
The term is chiefly North American; in Britain similar work is typically done by a 'commis waiter' or kitchen porter. Because 'busboy' is gender-specific, many modern restaurants prefer the neutral terms 'busser' or 'server assistant.' The word is informal to neutral in register.
Easily confused with busboy
A waiter takes orders and serves food, while a busboy only clears dishes and assists the serving staff.