cobber
/ˈkɒbɚ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.47 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "What's up, cobber?"
- "G'day cobber!"
- "“He′s a good cobber, even if he is the parson,” he said at last. “He′s a good cobber.” “That′s right,” said Jim patiently. “He′s a good cobber, and he′s the parson. Now you buzz off and leave him be. We′ve got business to talk here.”"
- "He was the first member of our forces we had seen for five months. “Hi ya, cobber,” muttered Don."
- "‘G’day there, Jessie. How’s tricks? You know me cobber?’ ‘Know him? Course I know him!’"
- "A voice from out of nowhere challenged: “Who is going away cobber?” “Bob!” I shouted. “Boy, am I glad to see you ... Where the hell have you been, my dear bloody cobber?”"
Etymology
Uncertain. Perhaps from Yiddish חבֿר (khaver, “friend, comrade”), from Hebrew חבר (ḥāḇēr, “friend”), possibly via Dutch gabber; alternately, perhaps from the British dialectal term cob (“take a liking to”), or a conflation of both. The suggestion that it is a self-referential collective term for convicts and immigrants who departed for Australian shores from the Irish port of Cobh seems chronologically unlikely.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: חבֿר, חבר