noun
booby
BOO-bee/ˈbuːbi/
A foolish or inept person.
The booby saws through the branch supporting him.
Etymology
Spanish bobo already meant a stupid person and was also used of ungainly seabirds. These uses connect the personal insult with the awkwardness included in the English sense.
In context
and so roughly, exceeds the bounds of proper reproof, for that comes better with gentleness than with rudeness; and it is not seemly to call the sinner roundly blockhead and booby, without knowing anything of the sin
More examples
- He felt like a booby after missing the obvious clue.
- The comedy features two lovable boobies.
- You silly booby, she said.
Forms
booby · boobies
Similar words
- fool
- Fool is more common and can sound harsher.
- bungler
- Bungler emphasizes inept performance.