boon companion

boon companion

One's close or closest friend, especially someone with whom one enjoys spending time or sharing activities. My wife and I are also boon companions—we do everything together!
See also: boon
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

boon companion

A favorite friend, a convivial associate. Now on its way to obsolescence, the adjective “boon” comes from the French bon, for “good,” and has meant “jolly” since the twelfth century. As for the pairing with “companion,” several sources cite the Roman epigrammist Martial, who wrote nulli tefacias nimis sodalem, which has been translated as “to no man make yourself a boon companion.” The association with drinking was made explicit by John Arbuthnot (The History of John Bull, 1712): “A boon companion, loving his bottle and his diversion.”
See also: boon
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • (one's) old lady
  • line of country
  • (one's) line of country
  • (from) top to toe
  • (one's) day in court
  • (one's) jollies
  • sun worshipper
  • (there's) no peace/rest for the wicked
  • (one's) old man
  • (one's) jig is up
References in classic literature
He was, in fact, a boon companion; as all veteran Canadian traders are apt to be.
The boon companion of the colossal elephant was a common cat!
Availing himself of his friendly relations with Pierre as a boon companion, Dolokhov had come straight to his house, and Pierre had put him up and lent him money.
``Why, hermit,'' was the yeoman's first question as soon as he beheld the knight, ``what boon companion hast thou here ?''
But whilst he was congratulating himself on having such a nice story to tell to his boon companion, Jacob, that worthy was on his road to Delft; and, thanks to the swiftness of the horse, had already the start of Rosa and her companion by four leagues.
The place at that time was the residence of Count Baranoff, the governor of the different colonies; a rough, rugged, hospitable, hard-drinking old Russian; somewhat of a soldier; somewhat of a trader; above all, a boon companion of the old roystering school, with a strong cross of the bear.
Already he had earned the reputation of a good boon companion, a cheery reveller, and withal a man of high temper, who would not take an insult even from the all-powerful Boss himself.
drink three cups of wine, the "Golden Valley" being the name of a garden, the owner of which enforced this penalty among his boon companions (`Gems of Chinese Literature', p.
Why, clearly, he said, then he and his boon companions, whether male or female, will be maintained out of his father's estate.
I have often recalled that cheerful party to my pleasant recollection since, and shall not easily forget, in junketings nearer home with friends of older date, my boon companions on the Prairie.
"Now," quoth Little John, "it doth seem to me that instead of striving to cut one another's throats, it were better for us to be boon companions. What sayst thou, jolly Cook, wilt thou go with me to Sherwood Forest and join with Robin Hood's band?
A man has confidence in untried friends, he remembers the many offers of service so freely made by his boon companions when he wanted them not; he has hope--the hope of happy inexperience--and however he may bend beneath the first shock, it springs up in his bosom, and flourishes there for a brief space, until it droops beneath the blight of disappointment and neglect.
"As the eleventh hour struck, he entered with a swaggering air, attended by two of the most dissolute and reckless of his boon companions. She stretched out her arms to him, but they seized hold of her, and one of the three -- none other than the accursed Benedetto exclaimed, -- `Put her to torture and she'll soon tell us where her money is.'
wholly unconscious of this heavenly scene - perhaps revelling with his boon companions, perhaps - God help me, it is too - too much!
Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my boon companions in boyhood; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting.