/ˈbʊbə/, /ˈbʌ-/, /-bi/
OriginBorrowed from Yiddish באָבע (bobe, “grandmother”), and then either from a Slavic language or from eastern Middle High German bābe (“old woman”), both from Proto-Slavic *baba (“old woman”) and ultimately imitative of a child’s babbling. Doublet of baba.
- A grandmother.
“The Bube explained the situation in voluble Yiddish, and made Esther wince again under the impassioned invective on her clumsiness. […] If the family died of starvation, their blood would be upon her ”
“I never met my bubbe, my grandma, the source of all my mother's Yiddish proverbs, […]”
“I dedicate this book to my late grandparents, Morris and Bala Baellow. My bubbe’s inability to write in English turned out to be a blessing: she pressed me into service as her scribe at an early age.”
- An elderly woman.
“"I wanna more chocolate, bubbe," said Karl. […] "You heard the bubbe," said Josie. "There isn't any. You act up and cry and I'll give you the back of my hand."”
Formsbubbes(plural) · bobbe(alternative) · bobeh(alternative) · bubbeh(alternative) · bubbie(alternative) · bubby(alternative) · bubah(alternative) · bube(alternative)