po po

See also: po-po and Appendix:Variations of "po"

English

Alternative forms

• po-po
• (term of address) Po Po

Etymology

Borrowed from Mandarin 婆婆 (pópo, “husband's mother”), Cantonese 婆婆 (po⁴ po^4-2, “maternal grandmother”).

Noun

po po (plural po pos)

1. (dated, Chinese contexts) Mother-in-law, (especially) the mother of one's husband.
   • 1906, China's Millions, China Inland Mission (Council for North America), page 9:

     When she was about eight years old a very sad thing happened to May Blossom. Her mother died and her “po-po” (mother-in-law) said she must go and live with her

   • 1915, “Missions”, in Missions: American Baptist International Magazine, volume 6, American Baptist Convention, page 672:

     All through the term she was a regular attendant, though her Po-Po (mother-in-law) tried many schemes to hinder her. Mrs. Fu’s virtuous life has been a sore rebuke to the old lady who spends her days gossiping, feasting and gambling with her old cronies.

2. (informal, US) Grandmother, (especially) one's maternal grandmother.
   • 1995, Mei Zhou, Elizabeth Choy: More Than a War Heroine, page 154:

     And Stephanie has, since birth, lived with her grandmother – her Po-po – in this house.

   • 2015, Anne R. Tan, Gusty Lovers and Cadavers, page 21:

     His fingers curled into fists. “Listen, you old bat—”
     Po Po whipped out her pepper spray and blasted him.

   • 2019, Virginia King, The Fourth Door, page 69:

     “Rose keep blouse. She put it on shrine with baby clothes. Maybe Chi Lung see her blouse in his dream, know Rose his po po—and come back.”

   • 2022, Jackie Lau, The Stand-Up Groomsman, page 138:

     “Mel!” Po Po called from the other room.
     He went to the doorway of the kitchen so he could see his po po, sitting in the armchair, as well as Ruby running around with the xylophone and screaming “Good doggie!” or similar.