Bobbery, subs. (popular).—A noise; squabble; disturbance; or ‘racket.’
[An Anglo-Indian representation of Bāp re! O father! a common
exclamation of surprise or grief.—Yule. Murray thinks the evidence for
its origination in India is decisive, other plausible derivations to
the contrary notwithstanding.] The first of the following quotations
shows an earlier use by thirteen years than that given by the New
English Dictionary.
1803. Kenney, Raising the Wind, II., i. If I don’t go back, and
kick up such a bobbery—
1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. ii. I’ll bet a wager there’ll be a
bobbery in the pigsty before long, for they are ripe for mischief.
1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xix. ‘I can do nothing but
there’s a bobbery at the bottom of it.’
1879. Punch, 17 May, 227. I might in quiet hold my own, And not go
kicking up a bobbery. [M.]
Bobbish, adj. (common).—Frequently pretty bobbish, i.e., hearty; in
good health and spirits; clever; spruce. Cf., Bob, adj. So also
bobbishly, adv.
1819. Scott, in Lockhart, xliv. (1842), 394. I trust you will find
me pretty bobbish. [M.]
1857. Dickens, The Detective Police, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 247.
‘Halloa, Butcher! is that you?’ ‘Yes, it’s me, How do you find
yourself?’ ‘Bobbish,’ he says.
1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. iv., p. 13. Every Christmas
Day, he retorted, as he now retorted, ‘It’s no more than your
merits. And now are you all bobbish, and how’s sixpennorth of
halfpence?’ meaning me.
1881. W. D. Howells, Dr. Breen’s Practice, ch. vii. ‘I didn’t know
that I mustn’t look downcast. I didn’t suppose it would be very
polite, under the circumstances, to go round looking as bobbish as
I feel.’
Bobbles, subs. (common).—The testicles—a corrupted form of bawbells.
For synonyms, see Cods.
Bobby, subs. (popular).—A policeman. This nickname, though possibly not
derived from, was certainly popularised by the fact that the
Metropolitan Police Act of 1828 was mainly the work of Mr., afterwards
Sir Robert Peel. Long before that statesman remodelled the police,
however, the term ‘bobby the beadle’ was in use to signify a guardian
of a public square or other open space. There seems, however, a lack of
evidence, and examples of its literary use prior to 1851 have not been
discovered. For synonyms, see Beak, sense 1.
At the Universities the Proctors are or used to be called bobbies.
1851. H. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 16. It is
often said in admiration of such a man that he could muzzle half a
dozen bobbies before breakfast!
1880. Punch, No. 2038. Going round a corner and crying, Bobby!
bobby! bobby! when he saw a Proctor.
1884. Punch, July 26, p. 41, col. 2.
But oh, for the grip of the ‘Bobby’s’ hand
Upon his neck that day.
1889. The Mirror, Aug. 26, p. 7, col. 2. On the back seat was
perched the perfidious Amelia Ann, the lust of conquest clearly
written upon her sinful and perspiring face. She had put her cat in
the birdcage, its former occupant being, I presume, inside the
cat.... In this order the ghastly procession moved off, to the
evident amusement of a ‘bobby,’ whose beat seems to include nothing
beyond the area-railings of the opposite house.
Bobby-Twister, subs. (thieves’).—A burglar or thief, who, when
resisting pursuit or capture, uses violence. Of obvious derivation.—See
Thieves.
Bob-Cull, subs. (thieves’).—A good fellow; a pleasant companion. [From
bob (adj.) = nice, lively + cull, old cant for a man.]
Bob My Pal, subs. (rhyming slang).—A girl, i.e., ‘gal.’
Bobstick, subs. (old).—A shilling’s worth. Cf., Bob, sense 1.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 162. Bobstick of rum slim.
That is, a shilling’s worth of punch.
1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Tom. Allons
donc—Waiter, bring some wine. Log. Hang cards! bring me a bobstick
of rum slim, or a glass of Barsac—stay, on second thoughts, I’ll
have a sniker of green tea punch.
Bob Tail, subs. (old).—1. A lewd woman. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.