booby

¹

[ boo-bee ]

noun

, plural boo·bies.

1. a stupid person; dunce.
2. a gannet of the genus Sula, having a bright bill, bright feet, or both: some are endangered.

booby

²

[ boo-bee ]

noun

, Slang: Sometimes Vulgar.

, plural boob·ies.

1. a female breast.

booby

/ ˈbuːbɪ /

noun

1. an ignorant or foolish person
2. the losing player in a game
3. See gannet
   any of several tropical marine birds of the genus Sula : family Sulidae , order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, cormorants, etc). They have a straight stout bill and the plumage is white with darker markings Compare gannet

Other Words From

• booby·ish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of booby¹

1590–1600; earlier pooby, apparently blend of poop to befool (now obsolete) and baby; booby ¹( def 2 ) perhaps by association with Spanish bobo < Latin balbus stuttering

Origin of booby²

1930–35, Americanism; probably variant of earlier bubby

Word History and Origins

Origin of booby¹

C17: from Spanish bobo , from Latin balbus stammering

Example Sentences

Diane Wilkerson: Booby-Trapped State Senator It has taken a lot to stand out as corrupt in Massachusetts politics recently.

From The Daily Beast

In the afternoon we landed on Booby Island and at night procured turtles, and about a thousand eggs.

From Project Gutenberg

Lady Booby, few as are the strokes given to her, is not much less alive than Lady Bellaston.

From Project Gutenberg

Booby traps were numerous, and special companies were hunting for them.

From Project Gutenberg

The Booby Isle was soon reached, and our sport there was equal to any we had elsewhere.

From Project Gutenberg

They think they might have been forced to lie out all night but for the sagacity of "Booby."

From Project Gutenberg