bobby
8
9.2
- noun
- /ˈbɒbi/
- UK
:
policía
- At the North Street stop, an officious bobby told her, "Take care."
- bobby on the beat
Examples
-
As the crowd gathered, a bobby stepped forward to maintain order.
-
Every bobby in London is out scouring the streets for you two.
-
"Was there a telly?" said the bobby with the red hair.
Fiction book (1995) -
On the eleventh of March the landlord of the Dog and Duck had a visit from the local bobby.
-
"Be sure to double-lock the outer door," the younger bobby reminded me when they left a bit later.
Fiction book (1995) -
The bobby asked the pedestrians if they had seen anything suspicious.
-
When she got lost, she approached a friendly bobby for directions.
Synonyms
∞
6.3
A person who works for the police
∞
1.2
A person who works for the police and enforces the law
303
1.0
A man whose job is to keep people safe and enforce laws
99
4.1
A police officer of low rank who works in local communities
33
9.0
A police officer who keeps people safe and enforces laws
2
9.9
A slang word for the police
1
2.8
A low-ranking person who enforces the law and helps people
1
9.9
A British slang word for a police officer
1
9.9
A French informal word for a police officer
Compounds
Surface Forms
Etymology
Bobby comes from the name of Sir Robert Peel, who set up the first modern police force in London. People started calling his officers 'Bob' or 'Bobby' after his name and also used the name Peelers, so today bobby means a British police officer.