booby

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an ignorant or foolish person
  2. noun small tropical gannet having a bright bill or bright feet or both

Etymology

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)).

In classic literature

Synonyms

dumbbell, dummy, dope, boob, pinhead

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