teddy bear

plural teddy bears · alternative teddybear

1. A plush toy in the shape of a bear.

   1988, Michael Weikath, "Rise and Fall", Helloween, Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II. The king of Los Angeles / Bought himself a teddy bear / And the queen became shameless / She did it with a chair

   1 more example

   The origin of Paddington (the bear, not the station) dates to 1956 when author Michael Bond (1926-2017) spotted a lonesome teddy bear on the shelf of a store near the station. It was Christmas Eve, so he bought the solitary bear for his wife.

   2021 September 22, Stephen Roberts, “The writings on the wall...”, in RAIL, number 940, page 74

2. A lovable, endearing, large, strong, hairy, or sweet man, particularly one who is gentle in spite of a burly or gruff appearance.

   ...the sexy "teddy bear" frontman of the '80s rap group Heavy D and the Boyz.

   1999, “Big Men are Sexy Too - Apr 1999”, in Ebony, volume 54, number 6, page 73

   4 more examples

   I'd like to mt you if you're a bearded ‘Teddy Bear,’ husky build, under 34 & share a career orientation.

   1980 August 9, “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, page 14

   This is not to say that women don't admire the Brad Pitts and George Clooneys of the world, but they're just as likely to be attracted to a big, teddy bear kind of man as the guy gracing the cover of GQ.

   2008, Jean A. Campbell, Taking Sexy Back: The Cure for the Sexual Blahs, page 124

   “So I'm sort of a big teddy bear, am I?” “A sexy teddy bear.” he kissed her neck.

   2010, Abigail Reynolds, Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice: A Modern Love Story with a Jane..., page 276

   "Don't worry. He's a teddy bear, really." Flashing one of his extra-specially lovely grins at the glowering old man, Oli continues in a louder-than-normal voice[…]

   2026 August 25, Claire Hatcher-Smith, The Shadow on the Wreck, Penguin Group, →ISBN, page 41

plural Teddy Bears

1. UKrail transportA British Rail Class 14 locomotive.