buddy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A friend

   They have been buddies since they were at school.

2. 2
   noun

   A friendly way of addressing a man you do not know

   Hey, buddy, I think you dropped this.

3. 3
   noun

   A person you do an activity with

   We became gym buddies and worked out together every morning.

First appears c. 1788, in the writings of Charles Dibdin, of uncertain origin. Possibly from *bruddy, *bruthy, a child-talk alteration of brother. Alternatively, perhaps from British colloquial butty (“companion”), also the form of an older dialect term meaning workmate, associated with coal mining. Itself believed derived from 1530 as booty fellow, a partner with whom one shares booty or loot. Alternatively, compare Scots buddo, bodda (“buddy, kiddo, dear”), related to Icelandic budda (“purse"; also "short, stout person”).

Topics