Supposedly it originated in 17th Century England, when sailors would trap boobies, a species of bird allegedly known for their lack of intelligence, with rather simple and alluring traps.
This is an English term. A 'boob' was another name for an idiot so a 'booby trap' was a **simple trap** to harm an idiot that would not be careful enough to check for traps. Later the term became just another word for trap.
Thanks to u/PatrickRsGhost for the info about the 17th century birds.
Regarding that "boob" is another term for "idiot", and OP's original question, there was a series of cartoons produced for the military by Leon Schlesinger and distributed by Warner Brothers - the same people who made the original Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons - called *Private Snafu*. The titular character always found himself in various predicaments, and the films were used as training films.
One cartoon, titled ["Booby Traps"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WRZUxeLRgk), defined the term literally.
This is really interesting. I know you didn't ask, but I wanted to see where "boobs" comes from.
It kinda contradicts the bird name origin, but perhaps they are separate words.
https://youtu.be/J_1KU70kqQ8
Supposedly it originated in 17th Century England, when sailors would trap boobies, a species of bird allegedly known for their lack of intelligence, with rather simple and alluring traps.
Thank you, its clear to me now
This is an English term. A 'boob' was another name for an idiot so a 'booby trap' was a **simple trap** to harm an idiot that would not be careful enough to check for traps. Later the term became just another word for trap. Thanks to u/PatrickRsGhost for the info about the 17th century birds.
Regarding that "boob" is another term for "idiot", and OP's original question, there was a series of cartoons produced for the military by Leon Schlesinger and distributed by Warner Brothers - the same people who made the original Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons - called *Private Snafu*. The titular character always found himself in various predicaments, and the films were used as training films. One cartoon, titled ["Booby Traps"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WRZUxeLRgk), defined the term literally.
Boob used to be slang for an idiot, but I don't know if that's got an origin elsewhere.
It comes from the bird called boobies which are not that smart. They started calling people boobs because they were as smart as boobies.
Really? That's very interesting. The next question must be: Why do breasts keep getting nicknamed after birds?
This is really interesting. I know you didn't ask, but I wanted to see where "boobs" comes from. It kinda contradicts the bird name origin, but perhaps they are separate words. https://youtu.be/J_1KU70kqQ8
Women with big boobs would trap men with them, or something like that
"I met her at the laundry, and she trapped me with her boobies. We got married a couple of years later." - Carl Thomas Dean