ENGLISH
REFERENCE

booby

n.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈbubi// UK //bˈuːbi// boo·by Archaic Informal Slang

n. a person who is very foolish or silly. You use this word to describe someone who makes bad decisions or acts in a way that shows they are not smart.

n. a person who is foolish, gullible, or lacking in common sense. Often used to describe someone who is easily tricked or behaves in a socially awkward manner.


SIMPLE

He is such a booby that he fell for the simplest scam.

CONTEXTUAL

The old man was a complete booby, believing every story the con artist told him about the lottery.

COMPLEX

In the classic novel, the protagonist is portrayed as a booby who fails to recognize the subtle manipulations of his more cunning rivals, leading to his eventual downfall.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

17th century. From Spanish bobo, from Latin balbus (“stammering”). (bird): Compare typologically Translingual Morus, German Tölpel, Polish głuptak (akin to głupek), Russian о́луша (óluša) (akin to о́лух (ólux)).

Etymology 2

From the earlier form bubby.

Etymology 3

From boob + -y.

Idioms1 entry

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