looby

American  

[loo-bee] / ˈlu bi /

noun

plural

loobies

1. an awkward person, especially one who is lazy or stupid; lout; lubber.

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looby British  

/ ˈluːbɪ /

noun

1. a foolish or stupid person

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Etymology

Origin of looby

First recorded in 1350–1400, looby is from the Middle English word loby. See lob ¹, lubber

Example Sentences

Now we dance looby, looby, looby, Shake your right hand a little, Shake your left hand a little, Shake your right foot a little, And turn you round about.

From Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales A Sequel to the Nursery Rhymes of England by Halliwell-Phillipps, J. O. (James Orchard)

Come, then, I will help; mas, master, I think his mother song looby to him, he is so heavy.

From Locrine/Mucedorus by Shakespeare (spurious and doubtful works)

Now we dance looby, looby, looby, Now we dance looby, looby, light, Shake your right hand a little And turn you round about.

From The Nursery Rhymes of England by Various

"Now, you looby," said the lawyer, "cannot you conceive that your business can be nothing to Colonel Mannering, but that he may not choose to have these great ears of thine regaled with his matters?"

From Guy Mannering by Scott, Walter, Sir

"O thou silly blockhead," quoth he, "all thy life long wilt thou be a fool: thou art already a great looby and yet knowest not what a four-legged rogue a wolf is."

From The Adventurous Simplicissimus being the description of the Life of a Strange vagabond named Melchior Sternfels von Fuchshaim by Grimmelshausen, Hans Jacob Christoph von