A common phrase used to describe hidden dangers and surprise devices, “booby trap” has a long and curious history, one that sparked discussion on Reddit, where users debated whether the term originated from insults, seabirds or something else entirely.
The discussion began when a Reddit user asked whether the phrase “booby trap” came from a time when people referred to foolish individuals as “boobs.” The short answer, according to dictionaries and language historians cited in the thread, is yes.
Multiple Reddit users pointed to Wiktionary and the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), both of which trace the word “booby” back to the late 17th century, when it was commonly used to describe a fool, simpleton or unsophisticated person. A “booby trap,” in its earliest sense, was therefore understood as a crude or obvious trap, one only a fool would fall for.
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Over time, however, the meaning shifted. The contemporary usage of “booby trap” is a hidden or deceptive device intended to do harm or startle an unsuspecting victim. The original implication of the victim’s foolishness has been lost in contemporary usage.
The seabird theory
Some commenters raised an alternative explanation: that the term originated from traps set by sailors for seabirds known as boobies, particularly the blue-footed booby. These birds, known to be docile and not fearful of humans, were said to be easily caught.
Although this is the explanation that has been given in folklore and in everyday conversation, there were some people on Reddit who disputed this explanation, saying that it is not supported by major linguistic resources. One person gave the explanation from Etymonline, which says that the word “booby” comes from the Spanish word “bobo” and the Latin word “balbus,” which means “stammerer,” referring to awkward speech.
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Another user added that even the seabird’s name likely comes from the same root meaning: the birds were considered clumsy or dim-witted when observed on land. In that sense, the “booby” in booby trap still circles back to human foolishness, not bird-catching.
As one commenter summed it up bluntly: “If you fall for a booby trap, you look pretty dumb.”
