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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread busboy #1810 05/01/2000 10:14 AM Joined: May 2000 Posts: 1 central coast, california scotus stranger scotus stranger Joined: May 2000 Posts: 1 central coast, california How is it that English, that richest of all languages in descriptive vocabulary, does not have a command form for the guy that picks up the dishes from your table in restaurants. It is certainly rude to call out, "Oh, Busboy!" What other word works? They are not waiters and to call them such is inappropriate. However, call them we must. Any ideas? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: busboy #1811 05/05/2000 2:44 PM Joined: May 2000 Posts: 19 Washington, DC, USA GZini stranger GZini stranger Joined: May 2000 Posts: 19 Washington, DC, USA I usually use "sir" when I am calling a male server or busboy, and "ma'am" when calling a female. I think that it's more polite then either "oh, waiter!" or "oh, busboy!" Plus, it eliminates the problem you face.... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,916 Posts230,374 Members9,211 Most Online7,006 Mar 7th, 2026 Newest Members Boo boo kitty fu, peterreineck, Peripatetic Toad, JerryC, blvd 9,211 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 34 A C Bowden 15 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,202 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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