cobber

English

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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɒbɚ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒbə(ɹ)

Noun

cobber (plural cobbers)

1. (Australia, slang, dated) A pal, buddy, mate, friend; often used in direct address by one male to another.

   What's up, cobber?

   G'day cobber!

   • 1953, Nevil Shute, In the Wet, published 2010, unnumbered page:

     “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.”

   • 1955, Charles McCormac, “You′ll Die in Singapore!”‎^[1], page 181:

     He was the first member of our forces we had seen for five months. “Hi ya, cobber,” muttered Don.

   • 2009, George W. Adams, Under the Southern Cross‎^[2], page 137:

     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?”

2. (Australia) A sweet consisting of a small block of hard caramel covered in chocolate.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:friend

Derived terms

• cobber up

Translations

Australian: a pal, buddy, mate, friend

• Polish: stary (pl) m
• Russian: приятель (ru) m (prijatelʹ), старина (ru) m (starina)

References

1. Australian National Dictionary Centre » Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms » C