Booby trap

Booby trap
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 trap — n 1.) a hidden bomb that explodes when you touch something else that is connected to it ▪ He lost both legs in a booby trap bomb blast. 2.) a ↑harmless trap that you arrange for someone as a joke >booby trapped adj >booby trap v …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • booby trap — n. 1. any scheme or device for tricking a person unawares 2. a bomb or mine that is set to be exploded by some action of the intended victim, as when some seemingly harmless object is lifted booby trap vt. booby trapped, booby trapping …   English World dictionary

  • booby trap — n.    a device set up to be triggered to harm or kill anyone entering the trap, such as a shotgun which will go off if a room is entered, or dynamite which will explode if the ignition key on an auto is turned. If a person sets up such a trap to… …   Law dictionary

  • booby trap — booby ,trap noun count 1. ) a hidden bomb designed to kill or injure someone who does not realize it is there. It explodes when someone touches something connected to it. 2. ) OLD FASHIONED a trick or joke in which someone arranges for something… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • booby trap — ► NOUN ▪ an object containing a concealed explosive device designed to detonate when someone touches it …   English terms dictionary

  • Booby trap — A booby trap is a device set up to be triggered by an unsuspecting victim. As the word trap implies, they usually have some form of bait designed to lure the victim towards it. In other cases, however, the trap is set to be triggered when the… …   Wikipedia

  • booby trap — n. 1) to set a booby trap 2) to set off, trigger a booby trap 3) to deactivate a booby trap 4) a booby trap explodes, goes off * * * [ buːbɪtræp] goes off trigger a booby trap a booby trap explodes to deactivate a booby trap to set a booby trap… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • booby trap — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms booby trap : singular booby trap plural booby traps a hidden bomb designed to kill or injure someone who does not realize it is there. It explodes when someone touches something connected to it. Derived word:… …   English dictionary

  • booby-trap — transitive verb : to provide with a booby trap drivers should be trained thoroughly in careful driving through mined and booby trapped roads Infantry Journal Congress … booby trapped the bill with unworkable provisions Time * * * ˈbooby trap… …   Useful english dictionary

  • booby-trap — [[t]bu͟ːbi træp[/t]] booby traps, booby trapping, booby trapped also booby trap 1) N COUNT: oft N n A booby trap is something such as a bomb which is hidden or disguised and which causes death or injury when it is touched. Police were checking… …   English dictionary

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