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bauble

[ baw-buhl ]
/ ˈbɔ bəl /
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noun

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

RELATED WORDS

knickknack, trifle, doodad, novelty, gewgaw, gimcrack, curio, whatnot

Nearby words

  1. batuque,
  2. batwa,
  3. batwing,
  4. batwing sleeve,
  5. batwoman,
  6. bauchi,
  7. bauchle,
  8. baucis,
  9. baud,
  10. baud rate

Origin of bauble

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”; see bibelot
Can be confusedbabble bauble bubble
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bauble

British Dictionary definitions for bauble

bauble

/ (ˈbɔːbəl) /

noun

a showy toy or trinket of little value; trifle
a small, usually spherical ornament made of coloured or decorated material which is hung from the branches of a Christmas treeUsual US name: Christmas ornament
(formerly) a mock staff of office carried by a court jester

Word Origin for bauble

C14: from Old French baubel plaything, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for bauble

bauble

n.

"showy trinket or ornament," early 14c., from Old French baubel "child's toy, trinket," probably a reduplication of bel, from Latin bellus "pretty" (see bene-). Or else related to babe, baby.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper