Etymology
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bud (n.)

"undeveloped growth-point of a plant," late 14c., budde, a word of unknown origin, perhaps from Old French boter "push forward, thrust," itself a Germanic word (compare Dutch bot "bud," Old Saxon budil "bag, purse," German Beutel), or perhaps from Old English budd "beetle."

bud (v.)

"put forth or produce buds," c. 1400; see bud (n.). Related: Budded; budding.

bud

familiar form of address for a male, 1851, perhaps a shortening of buddy (q.v.) and ultimately from brother.

Entries linking to bud

budding (adj.)

1560s, "sprouting, putting forth or producing buds," present-participle adjective from bud (v.). The figurative sense of "being in an early stage of growth" is from 1580s.

buddy (n.)

1850, American English, possibly an alteration of brother, or from British colloquial butty "companion" (1802), itself perhaps a variant of booty in booty fellow "confederate who shares plunder" (1520s). But butty, meaning "work-mate," also was a localized dialect word in England and Wales, attested since 18c., and long associated with coal miners. Short form bud is attested from 1851. Reduplicated form buddy-buddy (adj.) attested by 1952, American English.

Lenny Kent, a long-time fave here, is really in his element. ... After four weeks here he's got everyone in town saying, "Hiya, Buddy, Buddy" with a drawl simulating his. [Review of Ned Schuyler's 5 O'Clock Club, Miami Beach, Fla., Billboard, Nov. 12, 1949]

Buddy system is attested from 1920.

updated on October 24, 2022

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Dictionary entries near bud

buckshot

buckskin

buck-tooth

buckwheat

bucolic

bud

Budapest

Buddha

Buddhism

Buddhist

budding

© 2001-2023 Douglas Harper