subs. (old: now recognised).—A fool; an idle dullard. For synonyms, see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.
1362. LANGLAND, Piers Plowman, A. i. 6. Great LOUBIES and long, that loth were to swinke. Ibid. (1399), Richard the Redeless, ii. 170. This lorell that ladde · this LOBY awey.
1529. S. FISH, A Supplicacyon for the Beggers, p. 13 (ARBER’S ed.). Set those sturdy LOBIES abrode in the world to get … theire liuing with their laboure in the swete of theire faces.
1609. DEKKER, The Guls Horne-booke [GROSART (1886), ii. 207]. And how to munch so like LOOBIES, that the wisest Solon in the world, shall not be able to take them for any other.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. LOOBY, a lazy dull Fellow.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
d. 1731. WARD, Works, ii. 20. ‘Reflections upon a Country Corporation.’
| Honest Men precious are as Rubies; | |
| Their May’rs Successivly are Boobies; | |
| And Aldermen great Brawny LOOBIES. |
1754. The Connoisseur, No. 22. The country squire seldom fails of seeing his son as dull and awkward a LOOBY as himself.
1775. SHERIDAN, The Rivals, ii. 1. I must leave you—I own I am somewhat flurried—and that confounded LOOBY has perceived it.
1776. FOOTE, The Bankrupt, ii. How the LOOBIES must look.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ii. Now, you LOOBY, said the lawyer.
1845. B. DISRAELI, Sybil; or, The Two Nations, Bk. IV. xi. ‘I went once and stayed a week at Lady Jenny Spinner’s to gain her LOOBY of a son and his eighty thousand a year.’
