different between crony vs cobber

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?o?ni/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k???ni/
• Rhymes: -??ni

Etymology 1

Coined between 1655 and 1665 from Ancient Greek ??????? (khrónios, “perennial, long-lasting”) (English chrono- (“time”), initially as Cambridge University slang, in sense of “chum”, as “friend of long standing”, with illegal connotation later.

Early spellings included chrony, as in 1665 diary by Samuel Pepys, supporting the Greek origin.

Noun

crony (plural cronies)

1. (informal, originally Cambridge University) A close friend.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:friend

   Antonym: noncrony
2. (informal) A trusted companion or partner in a criminal organization.

Alternative forms

• chrony (obsolete)

Derived terms

• cronyism
• cronynomics
• crony capitalism
• noncrony

Translations

References

Etymology 2

Noun

crony (plural cronies)

1. (obsolete) An old woman; a crone.

   • Marry not an old crony.

Anagrams

• Conry, corny, croyn, cry on

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