noun
In Jewish use: a term of endearment or form of address, especially for a child or elderly relative; ‘sweetheart’, ‘darling’, ‘honey’.
Origin
1950s; earliest use found in Arnold Wesker (1932–2016), playwright. From Yiddish bubele from bobe grandmother + -le, suffix forming diminutives (ultimately from Middle High German -līn, suffix forming diminutives), the term originally being applied to baby girls and later extended to boys.
Are You Learning English? Here Are Our Top English Tips