First recorded in 1580–90; imitative
Use the word baa to describe the sound a sheep makes. A lamb might baa for its mother if it finds itself alone. Every language has words that mimic the cries and noises animals make, and in English sheep and goats baa. In Dutch, sheep say bè bè, and in Japanese they say meh meh. The imitative word baa, first recorded in the late 1500s, can be either a noun or a verb, depending how you use it. Baa makes a famous appearance in the well-known children's song "Baa baa Black Sheep."
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This spring, the BAA said it would add minutes to times of runners who use downhill courses to qualify.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 17, 2025
A UK-wide survey from 2024, distributed by the BAA and ENT UK, the professional body representing ear, nose and throat surgery, found that only 4% of audiologists consider themselves to be well-informed on APD.
From BBC • Feb. 15, 2025
If approved, an athlete will be eligible to receive a deferred entry into one of the next two years’ BAA races.
From Washington Post • Feb. 2, 2023
The BAA had said in October that it would annul Kipyokei’s result pending completion of the AIU investigation and sanction announcement.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 20, 2022
Eddie Gottlieb won the first title ever in the NBA’s precursor, the BAA, in 1947 for the Warriors.
From Washington Times • Jun. 1, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
