| Revision as of 13:00, 29 November 2021 editAvilich (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users19,698 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:42, 20 January 2022 edit undo181.65.25.135 (talk) →See alsoNext edit → | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | |||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | *] | ||
Revision as of 17:42, 20 January 2022
Joke prize given in recognition of a terrible performance or last-place finish
A booby prize is a joke prize usually given in recognition of a terrible performance or last-place finish. A person who finishes last, for example, may receive a booby prize such as a worthless coin. Booby prizes are sometimes jokingly coveted as an object of pride.
Booby prizes may also be given as consolation prizes to all non-placing participants of a competition.
Origin
The word "boob" stems from the Spanish bobo meaning silly, which in turn came from the Latin balbus meaning stammering; the word booby to mean dunce appeared in 1599.
Booby prize literally means "idiot's prize". The OED dates this usage to 1893. Booby trap and "booby hatch" are related terms.