What is a "Bubba"?

[Moo Moo]

Just wanted to ascertain what exactly is a "Bubba"? I take it that it is some sort of slang for a fool or similar. Is that right?

 

[Peak53]

Pretty close. Especially in the context of this forum, it's when an idiot (alternate term) takes a pair of pliers or the like to a S&W

 

[Narragansett]

Hack work done on a gun, like polishing stainless for example.

Less than professional workmanship

 

[LoboGunLeather]

"Bubba" is a slang term originating in the southern United States, generally referring to men who lack intelligence or common sense. By extension, applying the term "bubba" to objects usually refers to poorly done alterations.

So, what do you folks in Australia call them?

 

[Rastoff]

Bogan would probably be a similar Aussie term.

 

[Gulfecho]

Bubba is a guy you don't want to meet in prison

 

[Absalom]

On the other hand, I have encountered Bubba over the years here in a (semi)-rural area as an acceptable nickname used for some specific people, and not found objectionable by those guys.

I’m usually reluctant to use Bubba because I always think of the general negative use of the term I encounter in writing, like here, but then I’ll mention Jack, and people will go “Wait, who? Which Jack? Oh, you mean Bubba ...”

 

[Rastoff]

On the other hand, I have encountered Bubba over the years here in a (semi)-rural area as an acceptable nickname used for some specific people, and not found objectionable by those guys.

I have a friend who's name at work is Bubba, but he's not a Bubba. In fact, most don't know his real name because that's what he's called and that's how he introduces himself. Great guy.

 

[amazingflapjack]

In the American South, Bubba was (is) an endearing term applied to the oldest male sibling. While it carried some status, it also carried some "Big Brother" responsibilities as well. Typically, the whole family referred to this individual by that title, weather to the good or bad, and so, the name "Bubba" worked its way out into Southern Society, and was eventually carried north, where it was maligned, wrongly used, and demeaned. The name Bubba is also a given name in the south, even occasionally to women (?) May God bless Australia, and their fine people, including the wonderful old mates (probably in their 40's) who met our R&R plane a 3 in the morning in Darwin to buy us a beer. Quite a different greeting than we received in our own country. I'll never forget.

 

[LVSteve]

In the OP's area Bubba is that outback guy who hacks the wood short on a rare variant of Lithgow Enfield to use it as his dingo gun.

 

[RobertJ.]

Wasn't it originally slang for brother?

My aunt called my dad bubby since they were both tots.

 

[Gulfecho]

On the other hand, I have encountered Bubba over the years here in a (semi)-rural area as an acceptable nickname used for some specific people, and not found objectionable by those guys.

I’m usually reluctant to use Bubba because I always think of the general negative use of the term I encounter in writing, like here, but then I’ll mention Jack, and people will go “Wait, who? Which Jack? Oh, you mean Bubba ...”

What are you talking about? Jack? Bubba? Explain.

 

[BC38]

"Bubba" is a slang term originating in the southern United States, generally referring to men who lack intelligence or common sense.

Yeah, and/or who are severely lacking in education or sophistication.

By extension, applying the term "bubba" to objects usually refers to poorly done alterations.

And/or to describe the work done by such types. As in a "bubba-ed gun".
At least that is the usage in the current vernacular.

 

[Absalom]

What are you talking about? Jack? Bubba? Explain.

Ahem ... okay, with a straight face:

“Jack”, in this case, serves as a stand-in for any given proper name of a guy who in these parts is assumed to be known as “Bubba”. I, not being quite sure whether using the nickname “Bubba” might give offense due to its aforementioned negative connotations, and knowing this guy’s real name, be it “Jack” or any other name, therefore used that name, which however led to confusion on the part of the audience since they may have known people named “Jack”, but in their perception those did not include the person I was referring to, because they were used to referring to him only as “Bubba”. So they were momentarily confused. I should have just talked about “Bubba”. Which I did from then on.

 

[Muley Gil]

I know or have known some fine men named Bubba. As RobertJ stated, many times it is short for "Brother".

The chief of police's nick name in my county seat is Bubba. I'm guessing there are a fair number of folks around here that don't even know his Christian name.

 

[rwsmith]

A Bubba......

....yells,"Hold my beer and watch this!" while he lights the skyrocket held in his butt crack by the stick, and it doesn't go any where when it ignites and burns his butt off.

Usually a Bubba's stupid actions are influenced by alcohol, but it isn't necessary.

When I was a kid, a grown up asked me what I was going to do after high school I said, "Well, I'm thinking about going to college." "College?", he asked, "Are you going to play football?" I says, "No, I don't think so." and Bubba responds, "WELL WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO COLLEGE FOR?"

"The Red Green Show" hit it pretty well when he demonstrated how to turn your car into a gull-wing with a garage door opener and a lot of duct tape.

Bubba's have a strong tendency to not think things through or consider other outcomes.

"Bubba" implies that a person is ignorant and doesn't know it but has a really good time,especially when drinking beer. More fun when drinking more beer.

 

[Rustyt1953]

10 seconds of research:

Bubba - Wikipedia

 

[STCM(SW)]

So let me see.
If I change out the hammer and trigger and do an action job on my S&W revolver, it's a BUBBA job, but if a master gun smith does it and the results are the same that's OK?

 

[rwsmith]

Yeah, Bubba is a common nickname....

...but it is more common away from large cities. More rural and small town people are nicknamed Bubba.

I called my brother "bubba" for brother and my son "Bub" for short Neither of them are fools. So being a 'Bubba' doesn't make you an idiot. But it seems that an awful lot of people nicknamed 'Bubba' are real 'Bubbas'.

There is a holiday here called "National Bubba Day' that honors intelligent, educated, civil people that are named 'Bubba", but aren't the proverbial "Bubba".

Carol Burnette did a sketch with Harvey Korman s Eunice and Ed who are the parents of 'Bubba'. Bubba's teacher asks them to come to school for a conference because 'Bubba' is not doing well and seems to have a very low self esteem. By the time the teacher is finished talking to them and they leave, she says, "Bubba, you and I have a LOT of work to do."

 

[Frank46]

Bubba is the description of someone who takes a $700 mil surp and transforms it into a $250 if that truck gun or deer rifle. Frank