bauble

[ baw-buhl ]

noun

1. a showy, usually cheap, ornament; trinket; gewgaw.
2. a jester's scepter.

bauble

/ ˈbɔːbəl /

noun

1. a showy toy or trinket of little value; trifle
2. a small, usually spherical ornament made of coloured or decorated material which is hung from the branches of a Christmas tree Usual US nameChristmas ornament
3. (formerly) a mock staff of office carried by a court jester

Word History and Origins

Origin of bauble¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English babel, babulle, from Old French babel, baubel, derivatives of an expressive base with varying vocalisms; compare Old French baubelet “little trinket”; bibelot

Word History and Origins

Origin of bauble¹

C14: from Old French baubel plaything, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

For this apparently new and shiny one-state bauble is in fact a prudently discarded historical relic.

From The Daily Beast

This would not include the occasional sapphire or emerald bauble, nor the gold or pearl necessities.

From The Daily Beast

Finally I located and extracted the missing bauble, and with a triumphant whoop Elizabeth led me back into the waiting room.

From The Daily Beast

Domino was a beautiful bauble, but its disappearance was a fairly minor loss to the wider culture.

From The Daily Beast

The object had something of the form of a jester's bauble with points, which hung flabby and undulating.

From Project Gutenberg

A shout of laughter burst from the mob, and the clown flourished his bauble and bowed acknowledgments from side to side.

From Project Gutenberg

His eyes dimmed as they conveyed to him the image of his still beloved Imperatorskoye—he pressed the bauble to his lips.

From Project Gutenberg

Rising, Bon Vouloir, amid the exclamations of the court, claimed the privilege that went with the bauble.

From Project Gutenberg

Never anything but trouble has followed in the wake of that unhappy bauble of vanity since it first put in its appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• knickknack
• trinket