Dictionary

cobber en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkɒbɚ/

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.

Meanings

1. (Australia, dated, slang) A pal, buddy, mate, friend; often used in direct address by one male to another.
   • ‘G’day there, Jessie. How’s tricks? You know me cobber?’ ‘Know him? Course I know him!’ 1960, J. E. Macdonnell, Don't Gimme the Ships, Melbourne: Horwitz Publications, page 28:
   • He was the first member of our forces we had seen for five months. “Hi ya, cobber,” muttered Don. 1955, Charles McCormac, “You′ll Die in Singapore!”, page 181:
   • 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?” 2009, George W. Adams, Under the Southern Cross, page 137:
   • “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.” 1953, Nevil Shute, In the Wet, published 2010, unnumbered page:
   • What's up, cobber?
   • G'day cobber!
2. (Australia) A sweet consisting of a small block of hard caramel covered in chocolate.

Forms

Deriveds

cobber up

Translations (3)

pl stary (Australian: a pal, buddy, mate, friend) · ru старина (Australian: a pal, buddy, mate, friend) · ru приятель (Australian: a pal, buddy, mate, friend)