cubby

English

Cubbies in a school.

Etymology

From Middle English cub (“stall”) +‎ -y (diminutive suffix). Cognate with French cagibi.

Pronunciation

• (Southern England, US) IPA^(key): /kʌbi/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (Northern England, Ireland) IPA^(key): /ˈkʊbi/
• Rhymes: -ʌbi

Noun

cubby (plural cubbies)

1. A small, confined space.
2. A cell in a shelf for storing items, particularly in a school.
   • 2024, Jackie Mader, In Norway, having a joyful, secure childhood is a right enshrined into law, in: The Christian Science Monitor, October 15 2024

     It’s standard for Norwegian kindergartens to have rows of cubbies just inside the door, each storing layers of spare clothes, including rain and snow gear and boots and mittens.

Derived terms

• cubbyhole, cubby hole
• cubby house