noun

booby

BOO-bee

noun

A foolish or dim-witted person.

"Don't be such a booby — read the instructions first."

A large tropical seabird related to gannets, once thought clumsy on land.

"Blue-footed boobies perform an odd, high-stepping courtship dance."

How to Use Booby

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned word for a fool, or the name of a tropical seabird.

Common mistake

In "booby trap" and "booby prize," the word simply carries its "foolish" sense — a booby prize is a joke award for finishing last.

Common pairings

booby prize booby trap blue-footed booby

Word Forms

more booby comparative, boobier comparative, boobied past tense, boobies plural, boobies plural, boobies singular, most booby superlative, boobiest superlative

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Don't be such a _____ — read the instructions first.

Etymology

From Spanish bobo ("fool"), ultimately from Latin balbus ("stammering"). The bird got the name from its supposedly clumsy, foolish-looking behaviour on land.

Rhymes for booby

toby moby Scooby Jacoby

See all rhymes for booby →