Whipping-boy definition

A scapegoat.
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A boy formerly raised with a prince or other young nobleman and whipped for the latter's misdeeds.
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(historical) A boy brought up together with a young prince and required to take the punishment for the latter's misdeeds.
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Someone punished for the errors of others, historically a boy that was whipped in the stead of a misbehaving prince.

"As the whipping boy, he must take the whippings for the royal heir, Prince Brat."

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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
whipping-boy
Plural:
whipping-boys

Origin of whipping-boy