Brewer's: Adonis

A beautiful boy. The allusion is to Adonis, who was beloved by Venus, and was killed by a boar while hunting.

Rose-cheeked Adonis hied him to the chase; Hunting he loved; but love he laughed to scorn. Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him, And, like a bold-faced suitor, gins to woo him.

—Shakespeare: Venus and Adonis.

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