Bobby

UK: 'bobby', 'Bobby': /ˈbɒbi/ US: /ˈbɑbi/ ,(bob′ē)

Inflections of 'bobby' (n): npl: bobbies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bob•by /ˈbɑbi/   n. [countable] , pl. -bies. 

1. British Terms Brit. a policeman.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bob•by  (bob′ē), n., pl. -bies. [Brit. Informal.]

1. British Terms a policeman.

• special use of Bobby, for Sir Robert Peel, who set up the Metropolitan Police system of London in 1828 1835–45

Bob•by  (bob′ē), n. 

1. a male given name, form of Robert. 
2. a female given name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bobby / ˈbɒbɪ/ noun ( -bies)

1. a British police officer

Etymology: 19th Century: from Bobby after Sir Robert Peel, who, as Home Secretary, set up the Metropolitan Police Force in 1828