booby
booby Lexical Profile
booby Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A woman's breast (typically used in the plural as slang).
"The comedian's routine relied heavily on juvenile humor about boobies and bodily functions."
A large tropical seabird of the genus Sula, related to the gannet, known for its plunge-diving for fish and its clumsy movement on land.
"The blue-footed booby is famous in the Galapagos Islands for its bright webbed feet and elaborate, high-stepping mating dance."
A stupid, awkward, or foolish person.
"He felt like a complete booby after realizing he had been pushing a pull door for a solid minute."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word functions as a standard ornithological term for a seabird, but it is frequently used in the plural ('boobies') as juvenile or vulgar slang for a woman's breasts, requiring caution regarding context.
• Rhymes for booby
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Spanish word 'bobo' meaning 'stupid' or 'fool' (from Latin 'balbus', stammering). Sailors applied the name to the seabird in the 17th century because the birds were perceived as foolish for landing on ships and being easily caught.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.