different between cobber vs bedfellow

English

Etymology

Origin unknown. Perhaps from Yiddish ????? (khaver, “comrade”), which is borrowed from Hebrew ???? (khavér, “friend”), or, perhaps from the British dialectal term cob (“take a liking to”).. 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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?b.?(?)/
• Rhymes: -?b?(?)

Noun

cobber (plural cobbers)

1. (Australia) 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, 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.”
2. (Australia) A sweet consisting of a small block of hard caramel covered in chocolate.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:friend

Translations

References

1. Australian National Dictionary Centre » Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms » C

English

Etymology

From Middle English bedfelawe, equivalent to bed +? fellow.

Noun

bedfellow (plural bedfellows)

1. One with whom one shares a bed.

   Synonym: bedmate
2. (by extension) An associate, often an otherwise improbable one.

Derived terms

• strange bedfellows

Translations