bubby

¹

[ buhb-ee ]

noun

, plural bub·bies.

1. Often Bub·by. (used as an affectionate term of address) a young child.

bubby

²

[ buhb-ee, boo-bee, buhb-uh, boo-buh ]

noun

, Yiddish

1. a variant of bubbe.

bubby

³

[ boo-bee, boob-ee, buhb-ee ]

noun

, Older Slang.

, plural bub·bies.

1. a female breast.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bubby¹

First recorded in 1840–50; probably bubba ( def ) (in the sense “brother”) + -y ²( def )

Origin of bubby²

First recorded in 1960–65; bubbe ( def )

Origin of bubby³

First recorded in 1680–90; perhaps imitative of baby's cry or of sucking sound; boob ², booby ²( def )

Example Sentences

The incident took place in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City, where 45-year-old Harry Heymann attempted to dismantle the devices on two Secret Service vehicles as Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff’s daughter had lunch at Bubby’s, a nearby restaurant.

From Salon

On the British black comedy based on a one-man stage show by Richard Gadd, Gadd plays a doppelganger named Donny Dunn, who in his day job at a pub gives Martha, a bubby, quick-to-laugh customer, a free cup of tea.

From Seattle Times

They range from cliché but harmless—“Anyone who hates Jews clearly hasn’t tried my Bubby’s brisket”—to a bit menacing, with one since-deleted post reading, “Trust Me. If Israel Wanted to Commit Genocide in Gaza, It Could.”

From Slate

In front of photographer Sam Muller’s delicate lens, Cepeda and Aikens sipped on bubby while languidly exploring the massive house.

From Los Angeles Times

In front of photographer Sam Muller’s delicate lens, Cepeda and Aikens sipped on bubby while languidly exploring the massive house.

From Los Angeles Times