bubby

¹ American  

[buhb-ee] / ˈbʌb i /

noun

plural

bubbies

1. Often Bubby (used as an affectionate term of address) a young child.

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bubby ² American  

[buhb-ee, boo-bee, buhb-uh, boo-buh] / ˈbʌb i, ˈbu bi, ˈbʌb ə, ˈbu bə /

noun

Yiddish

1. a variant of bubbe.

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bubby ³ American  

[boo-bee, boob-ee, buhb-ee] / ˈbu bi, ˈbʊb i, ˈbʌb i /

noun

Older Slang.

plural

bubbies

1. a female breast.

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Etymology

Origin of bubby¹

First recorded in 1840–50; probably bubba ( def. ) (in the sense “brother”) + -y ² ( def. )

Origin of bubby²

First recorded in 1960–65; bubbe ( def. )

Origin of bubby³

First recorded in 1680–90; perhaps imitative of baby's cry or of sucking sound; boob ², booby ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

In front of photographer Sam Muller’s delicate lens, Cepeda and Aikens sipped on bubby while languidly exploring the massive house.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2023

Morse brought bubby to the left field corner, smiling his big, beastly grin.

From Washington Post • Oct. 2, 2012

"Kem on, bubby; we can't stand hyar no longer, a-wastin' the time an' a-burnin' of daylight," said the constable.

From The Young Mountaineers Short Stories by Fraser, Malcolm

"What makes your hair so wet, bubby?" asked Daddy Wiggins, rolling the fish in brown paper.

From Little Grandfather by May, Sophie

Waal, I declar, bubby," said Brierwood agreeably, "this hyar fix ez ye hev got inter air sateful fur true!

From The Young Mountaineers Short Stories by Fraser, Malcolm