boob

BOOB/ˈbuːb/

5 meanings of boob

1
breastnounslangcountable
A breast, especially that of a woman or an adolescent girl.
She found a lump in her left boob and booked a mammogram for the next morning.
The dress was cut so low that she spent the whole party worrying about her boobs.
UsageIn medical or formal writing, breast is the word.
Similarbreast
Note
A twentieth-century clipping of booby in its breast sense, separate from the boob that means a fool. It is slang, casual and a little cheeky, yet friendly enough for Kim Haskan's Mommy Has a Boo Boo in Her Boob (2013), written for families facing breast cancer.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
The breast sense arose in the twentieth century as a clipping of booby. en.wiktionary.org
The breast sense has a separate etymology from boob meaning a fool. en.wiktionary.org
Kim Haskan wrote Mommy Has a Boo Boo in Her Boob. en.wiktionary.org
The book was written to help families affected by breast cancer. en.wiktionary.org
2
foolnoundatedCanadaUScountable
An idiot or fool.
Some boob in the front row talked through the entire movie.
Not having an ear for music it annoys me to hear the boobs squeal.
1914, George Vere Hobart, Boobs
Similaridiot, fool, dope, dimwit
Note
This insult took hold in Canada and the US early in the twentieth century, clipped from booby, an older word for a fool. It is mildly derogatory and a little old-fashioned, though still heard; in The Simpsons Sing the Blues (1990) it stands in a row with idiots, morons and fools. Because the slang word for a breast shares the spelling, a modern listener may hear the other meaning first.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 5 facts
The fool sense appeared early in the twentieth century. en.wiktionary.org
Boob meaning a fool is clipped from booby. en.wiktionary.org
Booby meaning a fool is older. en.wiktionary.org
The Simpsons Sing the Blues was released in 1990. en.wikipedia.org
The album uses boobs alongside idiots, morons and fools. en.wiktionary.org
3
mistakenouncolloquialBritishcountable
A mistake.
Misspelling the minister's name in the headline was an embarrassing boob for the paper.
There were a couple of boobs in the first draft, but nothing the editor couldn't sort out.
UsageUsually make a boob; it suits owning up to a small slip.
Similarmistake, blunder, error, gaffe, slip
Note
A regional split runs through this word: Canada and the US used boob for the fool himself, while British informal English uses it for the fool's deed, a blunder or slip.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
Boob has been used in Canada and the US to mean an idiot or fool. en.wiktionary.org

Less common meanings

4
slip upverbcolloquialintransitive
To make a silly mistake or behave foolishly.
Even careful editors boob now and then, which is why every page gets a second reader.
The announcer boobed in calling the winning horse by the wrong name.
Similargoof, blunder, slip
Note
To say what the slip was, English adds in and an -ing form, as The Canadian Forum did in 1969: "he boobs in calling the Weavers a rock ensemble." It is the action behind the noun for a mistake; to boob is simply to make a boob.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
The Canadian Forum published the quoted wording in 1969. en.wiktionary.org
5
prisonnounslangAustraliaUSuncountable
A prison or jail.
He did two years in the boob for armed robbery and came out with a tattoo and a trade.
Mate, if the cops find that in your car, you'll be back in boob by Friday.
UsageUsed with or without the: in the boob or just in boob.
Similarprison, jail
Note
Australia and the US use this word for jail, apparently a shortening of booby-hatch. Mudrooroo's Wild Cat Falling (1965) uses the bare form when its speaker grows homesick for "the easy drifting of boob."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
Boob means prison or jail in Australia and the US. en.wiktionary.org
The prison sense apparently comes from shortening booby-hatch. en.wiktionary.org
Mudrooroo wrote Wild Cat Falling. en.wikipedia.org
Wild Cat Falling was first published in 1965. en.wikipedia.org
The novel's speaker expresses homesickness using the exact phrase “the easy drifting of boob.” en.wiktionary.org

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 2–4

A clipped form of booby ("fool"), which appeared near the beginning of the twentieth century.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Boob is a clipped form of booby meaning fool. en.wiktionary.org
The clipped form boob appeared near the beginning of the twentieth century. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 1

A clipped form of booby ("breast"), appearing from the 20th century.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Boob is a clipped form of booby meaning "breast". en.wiktionary.org
Boob meaning "breast" appeared in the 20th century. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 5

Apparently shortened from booby-hatch.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

Boob meaning prison or jail apparently derives by shortening booby-hatch. en.wiktionary.org