English
boob
Boob comes from English booby ‘fool’.
- English1500–presentbooby‘fool’
- Englishearliest quotation 1914boob
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- English1500–presentbooby‘fool’
- Englishearliest quotation 1914boob
Earliest quotation: 1914, George Vere Hobart, Boobs: “Not having an ear for music it annoys me…”
The story
Clipped form of booby (‘fool’). Appeared near the beginning of the twentieth century; more information at booby § Etymology 1.
Every English word from English booby
Today it means
noun An idiot; a fool.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / English booby / boob