English word origin

Etymology of booby

17th century. From Spanish bobo, from Latin balbus (“stammering”). (bird): Compare typologically Translingual Morus, German Tölpel, Polish głuptak (akin to głupek), Russian о́луша (óluša) (akin to о́лух (ólux)).

3 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 3 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

verb

To behave stupidly; to act like a booby. · To install a booby trap on or at (something); to attack (someone) with a booby trap.

adj

Stupid; unintelligent.

noun

A stupid person. · Any of various large tropical seabirds from the genera Sula and Papasula in the family Sulidae, traditionally considered to be stupid. · In the game of croquet, a ball that has not passed through the first wicket.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Derivation mentionboboes
Derivation mentionbalbusla

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "es",
        "3": "bobo"
      },
      "expansion": "Spanish bobo"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "balbus",
        "4": "",
        "5": "stammering"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin balbus (“stammering”)"
    },
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    },
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      },
      "expansion": "Translingual Morus"
    },
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        "1": "de",
        "2": "Tölpel"
      },
      "expansion": "German Tölpel"
    },
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      "name": "m+",
      "args": {
        "1": "pl",
        "2": "głuptak"
      },
      "expansion": "Polish głuptak"
    },
    {
      "name": "m+",
      "args": {
        "1": "ru",
        "2": "о́луша"
      },
      "expansion": "Russian о́луша (óluša)"
    }
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      "олух#Russian"
    ]
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        "To behave stupidly; to act like a booby.",
        "To install a booby trap on or at (something); to attack (someone) with a booby trap."
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        "Stupid; unintelligent."
      ],
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

noun

A breast.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From the earlier form bubby.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    [
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  ],
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    {
      "lang": "Antigua and Barbuda Creole English",
      "lang_code": "aig",
      "word": "bubee"
    },
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      "lang": "Sranan Tongo",
      "lang_code": "srn",
      "word": "bobi"
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗

adj

Displaying breasts prominently. · Having large breasts.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree English boob Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English booby From boob + -y.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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        "3": "boob",
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    ],
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for booby →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

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Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-Ym9vYnk