lad — ONAD · Shobdo

lad /lad, læd

▸ noun

1 informal a boy or young man (often as a form of address):

come in, lad, and shut the door

I read that book when I was a lad.

▪ (lads) British a group of men sharing recreational, working, or other interests:

she wouldn't let him go out with the lads anymore.

▪ British a young man who is boisterously macho:

Tony was a bit of a lad—always had an eye for the women.

2 British a stable worker (regardless of age or sex).

– PHRASES
one of the lads British informal
a man who is an accepted or integral member of a male social group:

he's one of the lads—a top bloke

I tried to fit in by being one of the lads.

– ORIGIN Middle English : of unknown origin.