po-po

== English == === Etymology 1 === From various words by shortening and reduplication. The "posterior" sense may be reduplication of the initial syllable of that word, with modification of the vowel according to its spelling. Compare German Popo (“bottom”) from Latin pōdex (“anus”). The "police" sense may come from either the initial syllable of police or the initial letters of the words police officer. Compare PO. ==== Alternative forms ==== popo ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈpoʊˈpoʊ/ ==== Noun ==== po-po (plural po-pos or po-po) (informal, US) One's posterior, bottom, buttocks. [from 1950s] Synonyms: see Thesaurus:buttocks (childish) Genitals, especially the vulva. (colloquial, mildly derogatory, US) The police; a police officer. [from 1990s] (by extension) A prison officer, corrections officer, prison guard. ===== Usage notes ===== Originally chiefly urban American slang, this term for “police” has now spread to UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. It also spread to Hong Kong during the protests in 2019. ===== Descendants ===== → Dutch: popo === Etymology 2 === From Chinese; see po po. ==== Noun ==== po-po (plural po-pos) Alternative form of po po (“mother-in-law; grandmother”). === References === === Anagrams === oppo, poop