bobbery

Meanings

Noun

• A squabble; a tumult; a noisy disturbance.

Interjection

• Oh dear! Alas! Good lord!

Origin

• Origin uncertain; occurs earliest in British thieves' cant and Chinese Pidgin English, as well as extensively throughout British dialect. In origin, unrelated to the Anglo-Indian exclamation.
• Alteration of Hindi बाप रे ("O father!").