"Where does 'Booby Trap' come from?" Topic
9 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
Please remember not to make new product announcements on the forum. Our advertisers pay for the privilege of making such announcements.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the Language Plus Board
Areas of InterestGeneral
Featured Hobby News Article
Featured Link
Featured Showcase Article A cheap way to pick up on the latest fad and get your own dice cup for wargaming?
Featured Profile Article A staff editor makes a hobby video.
Current Poll
Featured Book Review
|
| richarDISNEY | 18 Jun 2009 8:16 a.m. PST |
The term "Booby Trap". How did that come about? I can understand "trap" and "boobie" but not together. Anybody have any idea how this term started? 
|
| gweirda | 18 Jun 2009 8:20 a.m. PST |
dunno…maybe the first one was on a treasure chest…? |
| Neotacha | 18 Jun 2009 8:27 a.m. PST |
booby
1599, from Sp. bobo "stupid person, slow bird," probably from L. balbus "stammering" (like barbarian, from an imitative root, cf. Czech blblati "to stammer," Skt. balbala-karoti "he stammers"). Booby prize is 1889, an object of little value given to the loser of a game; booby-trap is 1850, originally a schoolboy prank; the more lethal sense developed during World War I. |
 Saber6   | 18 Jun 2009 8:32 a.m. PST |
|
| CPT Jake | 18 Jun 2009 8:54 a.m. PST |
Some of the current traps are just evil. This is a great example: picture Jake |
| Saber6 | 18 Jun 2009 9:09 a.m. PST |
|
| richarDISNEY | 18 Jun 2009 10:26 a.m. PST |
Thanks for that Cpt. Jake!  And thanks Neotacha! That is what I needed.
|
| Daffy Doug | 18 Jun 2009 11:45 a.m. PST |
I thot this one was obvious. Knowing who the first person to call such a device a "booby" trap, though, I should think is impossible…. |
| Cacique Caribe | 19 Jun 2009 4:54 a.m. PST |
"booby trap" That's what my nephew used to call bras when he was little. CC |
|
