'barboy' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'bar' and 'boy', where 'bar' referred to the counter or barrier used for serving drinks and 'boy' meant 'young male'.

'bar' comes from Old French 'barre' (from Late Latin 'barra') meaning a bar or barrier; 'boy' comes from Middle English 'boi' (from Old French). These elements were combined in modern English to form the compound 'barboy' by the 19th century.

Initially it literally meant 'a boy working at the bar'; over time the term retained this meaning but became specifically used for an assistant or helper behind a bar.