Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - lad

~ n old-fashioned or literary 1 a boy or young man  (Things were different when I was a lad.) 2 the lads BrE spoken a group of men you know and work with or spend your free time with  (a night out with the lads | one of the lads (=a member of your group of friends)) 3 a boy or man who works with horses; stable boy 4 a bit of a lad BrE spoken a man that people like even though he behaves rather badly  (That Charlie's a bit of a lad, isn't he?)  (- compare lass, - see also Jack the Lad)