Etymograph

English

bub

Probably imitative of the sound of drinking.

Another origin of bub

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰā-uncertain
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*bō-‘close 􂀿male􂁀 relation’uncertain
  3. Germanc. 1650–presentBubuncertain
  4. Pennsylvania Germanmodernsame formuncertain
  5. Englishtodaybub

Either a corruption of brother, a modification of bud, or a borrowing from Pennsylvania German Bub or Southern German Bub (as was spoken in various communities in America before the early 20th century), ultimately thought to be derived from Proto-Germanic *bō- (‘close [male] relation’) and thus cognate to English boy and babe. Other probable cognates

Another origin of bub

  1. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*babôuncertain
  2. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*babōuncertain
  3. Old Englishc. 450–1150*baba‘a male child’uncertain
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500babe‘babe, baby’uncertain
  5. Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500babuncertainvariant of babe
  6. Englishtodaybub

Today it means

noun An alcoholic malt liquor, especially beer.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / bub