bobby

Everyday

1. (UK, old-fashioned informal) A police officer. tree →
2. (a name) Bobby is a boy's or girl's name, short for Robert or Roberta. tree →
3. A bobby pin is a small hair grip (US, Canada). tree →

In the lessons

In British history and stories, police officers are called bobbies, after Sir Robert Peel, who set up the London police in 1829. People say «a bobby on the beat» for a police officer walking the streets. «Bobby pin» is an American word for a hair clip.

Examples

• The bobby helped the lost child find her mum. tree →
• In Victorian London, bobbies walked the streets. tree →
• Police officers are called bobbies after Robert Peel. tree →
• Bobby is my grandad's name. tree →
• She held her fringe back with a bobby pin. tree →
• We need more bobbies on the beat. tree →

Note

Plural: bobbies. Friendly British slang; «copper» is another. As a name it has a capital B.