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. Another source could stem from the pre federation mail and passenger service Cobb and Co.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɒbɚ/

• Audio (Australia):

  (file)

• Audio (Southern England):

  (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.

   • 1960, J. E. Macdonnell, Don't Gimme the Ships, Melbourne: Horwitz Publications, page 28:

     ‘G’day there, Jessie. How’s tricks? You know me cobber?’ ‘Know him? Course I know him!’

   • 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)