From a wordorigins site:
The term booby meaning a stupid person dates to about 1599. It probably comes from the Spanish bobo meaning the same thing as well as being the name of the type of bird--which were slow, stupid and easy to kill.
The sense meaning breast is 20th century coinage, but traces back to the mid-17th century with the term bubby meaning the same thing.
Considering how far back the former usage goes, it's probable that you are mistaken about it being just an American word.
Ever heard of a booby trap? Started out a century and a half ago as schoolboy pranks, but WWI gave it a more lethal sense. |
