buddy

Etymology 1

1802, possibly from *bruddy, *bruthy, a child-talk alteration of brother. Alternatively, perhaps from British colloquial butty (“companion”), also the form of an older dialect term meaning workmate, associated with coal mining. Itself believed derived from 1530 as booty fellow, a partner with whom one shares booty or loot.

noun

1. A friend or casual acquaintance.
   They have been buddies since they were in school.
2. A partner for a particular activity.
   drinking buddies
3. An informal and friendly address to a stranger, usually male; a friendly (or occasionally antagonistic) placeholder name for a person one does not know.
   Hey, buddy, I think you dropped this.

pron

1. (In Maritime English) A person far removed from the conversation.
   I found some earphones in the pocket, buddy must have been pissed.
   Buddy's loaded. 'Got like three houses.

verb

1. (transitive) To assign a buddy, or partner, to.
   If you are being formally buddied, have a good chat with your buddy and find out their interests -- these should more or less match your own. 2007, Philip Briggs, Danny Edmunds, Mozambique: The Bradt Travel Guide, page 86

Etymology 2

From Middle English buddy, buddi, equivalent to bud + -y.

adj

1. Resembling a bud.
   Some of the dwarfer varieties are full of buddy growths in the early stages and these must be cut down and thrown away. 1963, John Herbert Goddard, Chrysanthemum Growers' Treasury, page 18