The word "booby" has several meanings depending on context:
- It can refer to a stupid or foolish person, mainly used in British informal language. For example, calling someone a "booby" means they are acting witlessly or foolishly.
- In American informal and sometimes offensive usage, "booby" can mean a woman's breast, often used in children's language.
- "Booby" also names a type of large tropical seabird with brightly colored feet or bill, similar to a gannet.
- Historically, "booby" derives from the Spanish word "bobo" meaning stupid, and the Latin root "balbus" meaning stammering.
So, "booby" might mean a foolish person, a woman's breast, or a kind of seabird depending on the context in which it is used.