Booby prize

Booby prize
Booby Boo"by (b[=oo]"b[y^]), n.; pl. {Boobies} (-b[i^]z). [Sp. bobo dunce, idiot; cf. L. balbus stammering, E. barbarous.] [1913 Webster] 1. A dunce; a stupid fellow. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A swimming bird ({Sula fiber} or {Sula sula}) related to the common gannet, and found in the West Indies, nesting on the bare rocks. It is so called on account of its apparent stupidity -- unafraid of men, it allows itself to be caught by a simple and undisguised approach. The name is also sometimes applied to other species of gannets; as, {Sula piscator}, the {red-footed booby}; and {Sula nebouxii}, the {blue-footed booby}. (b) A species of penguin of the antarctic seas. [1913 Webster]

{Booby hatch} (a) (Naut.), a kind of wooden hood over a hatch, readily removable. (b), an insane asylum. [Colloq.]

{Booby hut}, a carriage body put upon sleigh runners. [Local, U. S.] --Bartlett.

{Booby hutch}, a clumsy covered carriage or seat, used in the eastern part of England. --Forby.

{Booby prize}, an award for the poorest performance in a competition; hence, metaphorically, the recognition of a strikingly inferior or incompetent performance.

{Booby trap} (a), a schoolboy's practical joke, as a shower bath when a door is opened. (b), any concealed device causing surprise or injury when a usually harmless object is touched; -- in military operations, typically containing an explosive charge. [1913 Webster +PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • booby prize — n informal a prize given as a joke to the person who is last in a competition …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • booby prize — booby ,prize noun count a prize given as a joke to someone who comes last in a competition …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • booby prize — ► NOUN ▪ a prize given to the person who comes last in a contest …   English terms dictionary

  • booby prize — ☆ booby prize n. a prize, usually a ridiculous one, given in fun to whoever has done worst in a game, race, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Booby prize — A booby prize is a joke prize usually given in recognition of a terrible performance or last place finish. A person who scores last, for example, may get a booby prize such as a worthless coin. Booby prizes are sometimes humorously and jokingly… …   Wikipedia

  • booby prize — noun a prize given to one who finishes last in a contest • Hypernyms: ↑trophy, ↑prize • Hyponyms: ↑wooden spoon * * * noun, pl ⋯ prizes [count] informal : a prize that is given as a joke to the person who finishes last in a competition usually… …   Useful english dictionary

  • booby prize — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms booby prize : singular booby prize plural booby prizes a prize given as a joke to someone who comes last in a competition …   English dictionary

  • booby prize — [[t]bu͟ːbi praɪz[/t]] booby prizes N COUNT The booby prize is a prize given as a joke to the person who comes last in a competition …   English dictionary

  • booby prize — noun A prize or status, often unwelcome, awarded as a joke or disincentive to the loser of a contest or for poor performance. At the end of the conference, they awarded him with a rubber chicken as a booby prize for complaining the loudest …   Wiktionary

  • booby-prize —  Prize given for player with lowest score …   A concise dictionary of English slang

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