Cobber

[Sarah]

Australian colloquialism meaning mate or friend, but not necessarily in the literal term. Can be used to address a stranger in leiu of Hey, you there! or Hey, kid! in a more friendly manner. As the words been used since the earliest Colonial settlements of Australia, many Aussies mistakenly believe the word is archaic and no-longer used. In actuality, its simply slightly less understood then more generic forms of greeting (such as mate).

[Mark Zuckerberg]

another word for mate, commonly used amongst other people.

[PussyCat]

an archaic Australian colloquial term used to mean friend
(similar to mate)

[Jason Yan]

an elderly male

[Couch Potatoe]

n. Former Australian greeting/address which no self-respecting Aussie has used for at least 40 years!

[Dave Paprocki]

Cobber: the UK/Australian Bud-destroyer. The Irish-Americanism Bud is occasionally used as a slight or put-down to terminate a conversation, by enunciating it with a sharp emphasis, thereby imputing an impersonal distancing, paradoxically coupled with a sneering overfamiliarity. In the former English colonies, a [riposte] to this shorthand New World affront has been found in the resurrection of an obsolete colonial appellation of fraternal affection: Cobber, or just plain Cob. It is effective as a Bud-destroyer because its usage is so unexpected, completely shattering the false familiarity of Bud, at the same time providing [social proof] that you are indeed big enough to meet casual man-to-man disparagement head-on, and deflect it straight back [like water off a ducks back].

[Michiko]

A companion or friend (often used as a form of address between men)