buddy English · revision 5497

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=1850}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbʌd.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is uncertain.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is perhaps an alteration of [[brother]], which MWU explains as baby talk,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) or a variant of British colloquial [[butty]] “companion” (1802),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) itself perhaps from booty in “booty fellow”, a confederate who shares plunder (1520s).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A brother or companion, in American English: 1850.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Butty, a workmate, was also a local dialect word in England and Wales from the 18th century, long associated with coal miners.^(Etymonline) The short form ''bud'' is from 1851.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) A working partner, especially in the ''buddy system'', is from 1917.^(OED 1989) The verb, usually ''buddy up'', is from 1925 in Etymonline and 1931 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Buddy-buddy'' is from 1952,^(Etymonline) the ''buddy movie'' from 1978,^(OED 1989) and a volunteer who supports a person with AIDS from 1984.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1850 – a companion (US).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1851 – ''bud''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1917 – a working partner.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1925 – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1984 – a volunteer supporting a person with AIDS.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal, chiefly US)'' A close [[friend]]; a companion.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A partner who works or acts with another, as in a [[buddy system]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(informal)'' Used to address a man, sometimes in a hostile way.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(often with up)'' To become friends.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bud]]

+ * [[buddy-buddy]]

+ * [[buddy system]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[brother]]

+ * [[butty]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Buddy, full of buds, is a different and rare word, from 1598.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}