bruvn.
/brʌv/, U.S. /brəv/ colloquial (chiefly British).
Used as a familiar form of address to a man. Cf. bro n. 3b.In quot. 1970 as a nickname.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > of or to a man
sonOE
brotherOE
friarc1290
lad1535
fellow1577
bubba1841
old top1856
bra1869
bro1918
mush1936
ouboet1953
coz1961
oppa1963
bruv1970
1970 W. Wilhelm Last Rig to Battle Mountain x. 154 From the time Ken and Cecil were old enough to get around, they called me Bruv (meaning brother).
1981 J. Sullivan Only Fools & Horses (1999) I. 1st Ser. Episode 1. 15 Del. What you going to say to the manager?..‘I've got two GCEs, an 18-month suspended sentence and I know a good joint when I puff one.’ No, your feet won't touch bruv!
1997 A. Wood EastEnders (BBC TV script) (O.E.D. Archive) Episode 561. 46 I know it looks bad right now bruv, but you mustn't give up.
2014 Daily Tel. 17 Oct. 16/2 If it's less than five it's not worth it, bruv.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1970