bub

American  

[buhb] / bʌb /

noun

Slang.

• bubs
  plural

1. (used as an often insolent term of address) brother; buddy.

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bub British  

/ bʌb /

noun

1. informal fellow; youngster: used as a form of address

2. slang

   1. a baby

   2. the first grade of schooling; nursery school

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bubs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bub

1830–40, perhaps < German Bub, short for Bube boy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bub bubs

Just before Eboli’s “O don fatal,” the conductor pointed out to principal bassoon William Short how “it’s very different without the bub bub bub of the trumpets.”

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 28, 2022

Molly McCully, a Lilly spokeswoman, told me Azar departed the company "to pursue other career opportunities" — typically code for "here's your hat, bub."

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2017

Hey now, I’m the one asking the questions, bub!

From The Verge ● Feb. 26, 2016

Or, minus the corporate doublespeak: Your days are numbered, bub.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 18, 2015

"Say, bub," said Gar, the bouncer, to me one day, "what ungodly hour of the mornin' d'ye git up?"

From From the Bottom Up The Life Story of Alexander Irvine by Alexander Irvine

I just want to see my bubs progress.”

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 18, 2020

Richardson said she understood why some parents would enter the competition because they were proud of their bubs, but she had other priorities in her life and wouldn’t enter Elowen, born last July.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 6, 2019

Yet the breastfeeding was wonderful and I fed all my bubs for a year.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 19, 2017

I went up to see how she was this afternoon, not knowing anything, and there I found a pair of bubs in the nest, and old ma Stainwright bossing the show.

From The White Peacock by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence