July 08, 2008, 2:43 PM — Thanks to the new Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, the word fanboy is now officially a member of the English language.
The folks behind the Merriam-Webster dictionary have added more than 100 words and phrases to the new edition of the Collegiate Dictionary, and a popular gaming-related one is among them.
The word? Fanboy, that popular go-to word on gaming forums and comment threads across the Internet.
Here's the official definition, as found in the Collegiate Dictionary, along with the year when Merriam-Webster first saw its unofficial usage. You'll never guess how old it is!
"Fanboy n. (1919): [a] boy who is an enthusiastic devotee, such as of comics or movies." Or video game consoles, *cough, cough*
That's right, readers. Back in the day there were Ford Model T fanboys, among many others throughout the years.
