Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A police officer.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A policeman: a nickname first given to the members of the police force established under Sir Robert Peel's act (passed in 1829) for improving the police in and near London.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Slang, Eng. A nickname for a British policeman; -- from Sir Robert Peel, who remodeled the police force. See peeler.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun UK, slang, law enforcement A police officer.
  • noun UK, slang A railway signaller.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an informal term for a British policeman

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[After Sir Robert Peel, home secretary of England when the Metropolitan Police Force was created in 1829.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the given name of Sir Robert Peel, who established London's police force.

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Examples

  • NEWTON (voice over): This is what we call the bobby cam.

    CNN Transcript Aug 27, 2007 2007

  • NEWTON (voice-over): This is what we call the bobby cam, from the drunken brawl that's broken up to all the arrests that follow.

    CNN Transcript Aug 27, 2007 2007

  • 12: 29 PM mominem: good catch mac: "your faith in bobby is founded in what?"

    Your Right Hand Thief 2007

  • 2: 49 PM your faith in bobby is founded in what? seriously, what? has any move he has made post election given you any faith that meaningful change will come?

    Your Right Hand Thief 2007

  • Let me re write the PSU thing above in bobby speak

    ‘Banned Phrases’ Part I « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2008

  • Band standing because you think bobby is overreaching his authority or stigmatizing others will not stop lawless underclass types “stickin it in” others on da streets.

    Knife Crime Spin. « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2008

  • You know very well indeed that bobby is seeking to differentiate between sensible members of the public and criminally irresponsible sections of society.

    Knife Crime Spin. « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2008

  • Quickly she glanced down at herself, still not accustomed to this fancy getup she wore, including what Englishers called bobby socks and saddle shoes.

    Covenant Lewis, Beverly 2002

  • This illogical logic is really quite enjoyable sometimes, especially with Whack-a-Troll. everytime i see wasserman-shultz on the news programs i want to proposed marriage to her. the way she called bobby swindal out last night on countdown was classic. eyeball roll and all. tombaker Says:

    Think Progress 2009

  • I don’t understand, said the chief – a few hours ago everybody was having fun issuing tickets and how come this bobby is the only person left?

    The Single Measure Of Public Confidence « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009

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