Yiddish bobele would be the diminutive of bobe, i.e., 'little old lady'. I believe, in Yiddish, it is only applied to women as an endearment, but perhaps got extended in its English exile. Looking around in Weinreich's, I see also: bobe 'hag' (different entry from bobe 'grandmother; old woman'), bobe-mayse באבע-מעשה 'fairytale', bobetse 'hag', bobeshi 'granny'.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.