buddy

 
Pronunciation: /ˈbʌdi/
informal, chiefly North American

noun (plural buddies)

  • a close friend: they had become the best of buddies
  • a working companion with whom close cooperation is required.
  • a person who befriends and helps another with an incapacitating disease, typically AIDS: gay male counsellors, buddies, and helpline volunteers are available upon request
  • used as a form of address to a man whose name is not known: I’m working on it, buddy

verb (buddies, buddying, buddied)

[no object]
  • become friendly and spend time with someone: I decided to buddy up to them

Origin:

mid 19th century (originally US): perhaps an alteration of brother, or a variant of butty2