Home » Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
The Pet Name "Booby"
Grant Barrett
San Diego, California
1532 Posts
(Offline)
1
2016/10/17 - 12:49pm

A Canadian-born caller says her mother, who is from Britain, addresses her grandson as booby. In The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, researchers Iona and Peter Opie write that booby is a children's term for "a foolish crybaby," which may be connected. This is part of a complete episode.

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/286859244" params="auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700" width="100%" height="180" iframe="true" /]

Guest
2
2016/10/26 - 2:31pm

I was wondering if the origin of 'booby' could be the German 'Bube' (little boy, affectionately)? I expect Martha to know.

Bert van Leeuwen

the Netherlands.

january
3
2017/02/10 - 7:04pm

I'm a little late to the game. I've been binge-listening to past episodes and was so excited when I heard this one. My aunt has always called my brother Booby. He never really liked it, but it continues even though he's in his mid 30s. She isn't British. Her entire family is from Belleville, Illinois. As far as I know, he's the only one in the group of cousins that she gave a nickname, and this is the one she picked.

Forum Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
Mike Brock
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1266
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 44
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)