Plural of bobbery; instances of commotion, fuss, or petty bickering; in historical context, a small disturbance or minor uprising in India.
From bobbery, itself from Hindi babu meaning 'sir' or 'clerk,' used in Anglo-Indian English. The term was applied to minor revolts or disturbances, perhaps from the impression of self-important commotion. Entered English during British colonial rule in India.
Colonial English picked up 'bobbery' from Hindi and used it to describe both minor riots AND office workers causing a fuss—showing how language absorbs local words but filters them through the colonizer's perspective!
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