cubby (n.) 1868, short for cubbyhole.
cubbyhole (n.) "small, enclosed space," 1825, the first element possibly from a diminutive of cub "stall, pen, cattle shed, coop, hutch" (1540s), a dialect word with apparent cognates in Low German (such as East Frisian kubbing, Dutch kub). Or perhaps it is related to cuddy "small room, cupboard" (1793), originally "small cabin in a boat" (1650s), from Dutch kajuit, from French cahute. OED calls it "a nursery or children's name."
source (etymonline.com)
cubby (n.)
1868, short for cubbyhole.
cubbyhole (n.)
"small, enclosed space," 1825, the first element possibly from a diminutive of cub "stall, pen, cattle shed, coop, hutch" (1540s), a dialect word with apparent cognates in Low German (such as East Frisian kubbing, Dutch kub). Or perhaps it is related to cuddy "small room, cupboard" (1793), originally "small cabin in a boat" (1650s), from Dutch kajuit, from French cahute. OED calls it "a nursery or children's name."
[source](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=cubby)
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