buddy

Meaning

Noun

1. A friend or casual acquaintance.
2. A partner for a particular activity.
3. An informal and friendly address to a stranger, usually male; a friendly (or occasionally antagonistic) placeholder name for a person one does not know.

Pron

A person far removed from the conversation.

Verb

To assign a buddy, or partner, to.

Adj

Resembling a bud.

Synonyms

pal

comrade

friend

companion

chum

mate

🧉

crony

partner

close friend

fellow

sidekick

brother

👨‍👦

old fellow

associate

intimate friend

old chap

playmate

bro

acquaintance

accompanist

old boy

shagger

shill

play mate

tovarisch

yokefellow

you

Comrade

sworn brother

inseparable friend

trusted companion

tovarich

eme

bruv

puchito

marra

yaar

accomplice

ally

boon companion

bosom friend

boulder

buster

cobber

company

compatriot

compeer

consort

fellow-thinker

gang

Translations

compañero

maat

camarade

Kumpel

makker

🧉

kameraad

compagnon

amico

camarada

compagno

copain

Kamerad

kornuit

companheiro

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbʌd.i/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: buddy

In summary

First appears c. 1788, in the writings of Charles Dibdin, of uncertain origin. Possibly from *bruddy, *bruthy, a child-talk alteration of brother. Alternatively, perhaps from British colloquial butty (“companion”), also the form of an older dialect term meaning workmate, associated with coal mining. Itself believed derived from 1530 as booty fellow, a partner with whom one shares booty or loot. Alternatively, compare Scots buddo, bodda (“buddy, kiddo, dear”), related to Icelandic budda (“purse"; also "short, stout person”).