Teddy

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈtɛdi/

Definitions

1. A soft stuffed bear used as a toy ; a one-piece undergarment or nightshirt often called a teddy ; an informal name used affectionately for a person
2. A cuddly plush bear given to children ; a women's lingerie garment resembling a combination of camisole and panties ; a pet name frequently used to express affection
3. A child's plush bear toy ; a snug underclothing garment for women ; a friendly or loving nickname for someone

Etymology: The most famous story attached to this word involves a US president. In November 1902, Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Mississippi and refused to shoot a tied-up black bear. A political cartoon of the episode, drawn by Clifford Berryman and printed in the Washington Post, sparked a craze for toy bears, and a toymaker in Brooklyn began selling stuffed bears under the name "Teddy's bear." The name, however, may owe as much to a different man. Some sources suggest that "teddy" was a nickname drawn from Theodore Baer, a German-American designer associated with the toy's early development, though this link is uncertain. The clipped form "teddy" then became the common name for the animal, and the longer "teddy bear" was in use by the early 1900s.

Synonyms: bear, stuffed bear, plush toy