Etymology

boob

B3O1O1B3

Today it means: An idiot; a fool. Full definition →

First used 20th c.
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boob · noun, verb1

Clipped form of booby (“fool”). Appeared near the beginning of the twentieth century; more information at booby § Etymology 1.

boob · noun2

Clipped form of booby (“breast”). Appeared from the 20th century; more information at booby § Etymology 2.

boob · noun3

Apparently shortened from booby-hatch.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 20th c. A prison; jail.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.