α. Middle English– babe; Scottish pre-1700 baib, pre-1700 1700s– babe.
β. Middle English–1600s (1800s– chiefly English regional (northern and midlands)) bab, late Middle English babb, 1500s babbe; Scottish pre-1700 bab.
baben.
/beɪb/, U.S. /beɪb/ 1. A very young child; a baby. Formerly also: †a child of any age (obsolete). Now chiefly literary and somewhat archaic, often in fixed phrases, as newborn babe, babe in arms n. at Phrases.See also fear-, scare-babe at the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > baby or infant > [noun]
childOE
baban?c1225
fauntekin1377
infant1382
babea1393
fauntelet1393
babyc1400
lakinc1440
mop1440
chrisomer1574
tenderling1587
chrisom1596
childling1648
flosculet1648
bratling1652
lullaby-cheat1665
strangera1674
child (also infant, baby) in armsa1675
hoppet1695
tot1725
bambino1761
weanie1786
tiny1797
dot1800
trudgeon1814
toddle1825
toddles1828
yearnling1829
dab1833
toddler1837
baba1841
arrival1846
teeny-tiny1849
toddlekins1852
mite1853
trot1854
babelet1856
nestler1866
spoon-child1868
bubby1885
chavvy1886
bub1889
kiddy1889
toddleskin1890
newborn1893
kidlet1899
kidling1899
bubba1906
bundle of joy1924
liddly1929
mammet1932
snork1941
kiddywink1957
sproglet1987
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 320 How this Babe al blody crieth.
a1450 York Plays (1885) 445 (MED) This babb in my narmes for to inbrace.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xvi. 199 Alas, my bab, myn innocent.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 107 My bony baib with the rwch brylȝoun.
?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman ii. xi. sig. i.ijv Blessed of god from his babes age.
1590 R. Harvey Theol. Disc. Lamb of God 185 Thou art nothing but Esau in euery part, and so will prooue in soule as thou art already in body, vnlesse thou become a newborne babe in innocencie and concerning malice.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. i. 30 Finger of Birth-strangled Babe [rhymes drab, slab] . View more context for this quotation
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Worc. 169 His Mother..lay down her burthen at Elmeley..where this bouncing babe Bonner was born.
1727 J. Gay Fables I. iii. 10 Your precious babe is hence convey'd, And in the place a changeling laid.
1770 O. Goldsmith Deserted Village 381 Kiss'd her thoughtless babes with many a tear.
1823 J. Neal Errata I. xii. 192 And slept as tranquilly there, as a babe would.
1863 Banffshire Jrnl. 12 May 6 Her wee babe has got a fa'.
1881 W. Besant & J. Rice Chaplain of Fleet I. i. 2 The newborn babe begins his earthly course with a wail.
1914 T. S. Eliot Let. 27 Nov. (1988) I. 72 The whole history of the foul abduction of her husband and her babe from their station in Kashmeer.
1963 A. Kuhn Study of Society ii. 14 Move aimlessly in response to inner urges, like the newborn babe or the proverbial headless chicken.
2005 J. M. Coetzee Slow Man ii. 14 The truth is that he has no such desires. His heart is as pure as a babe's.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > toy or plaything > doll > [noun]
poppin1440
mammet1461
man of clouts, king of clouts1467
pup-barn?c1475
poppet1483
babe1530
poupe1530
baby1545
puppet1550
baban1570
puppy1659
doll1699
baby doll1725
dolly1790
doll-baby1807
babushka1948
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 196/1 Babe that children play with, povppee.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. May 240 Bearing a truss of trifles..As bells, and babes, and glasses in hys packe.
1590 R. Hakluyt tr. T. de Bry True Pictures People Virginia Pl. VIII, in T. Hariot Briefe Rep. Virginia (new ed.) sig. A6 They are greatlye Diligted with puppetts, and babes which wear brought oute of England.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. iv. 58 I should forget my sonne, Or madly thinke a babe of clowts were he. View more context for this quotation
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iv. xvii. 198 Babes of clouts are good enough to keep children from crying.
1844 A. Beresford-Hope Ess. 178 The babe of clouts played its part for a few days, and then fell to pieces.
3. An adult regarded as being like a child in some way; esp. an inexperienced, naive, or innocent person. Cf. baby n. 2. Now rare.See also babe in Christ n. at Phrases.With quot. 1557 cf. child n. 10.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > foolish person, fool > [noun] > childish
baby1539
babe1542
1542 W. Paget in State Papers Henry VIII (1849) IX. 49 Both the King your maister and thEmpereur knowe wel ynough, that the King my maister is no babe.
1557 Bible (Whittingham) 1 John ii. 1 My babes, these thinges write I vnto you, that ye synne not.
1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. 53 Wavering babs caried about with everie wind of doctrin.
1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Don-Quixote: Pt. 1 iv. ii. 312 She, who knew very well the Curates meaning, and was her selfe no Babe.
1757 J. Edwards Doctr. Orig. Sin i. viii. 94 The poor savage Americans are meer Babes and Fools (if I may so speak) as to Proficiency in Wickedness.
1864 W. Arnot Laws from Heaven (new ed.) cxxi. 521 If he was such a babe, a wisdom which is hidden from the wise and prudent had been revealed to him.
1900 Cent. Mag. Jan. 342/2 Willy is not such a babe as you think... He 's not been knocking around by himself these ten years..without picking up an idea or two.
4. colloquial (originally U.S.).
a. A person (of either sex). Frequently as a form of address. Cf. baby n. 6d.In quot. 1900: a remarkable person.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > [noun]
hadc900
lifesmaneOE
maneOE
world-maneOE
ghostOE
wyeOE
lifeOE
son of manOE
wightc1175
soulc1180
earthmanc1225
foodc1225
person?c1225
creaturec1300
bodyc1325
beera1382
poppetc1390
flippera1400
wat1399
corsec1400
mortal?a1425
deadly?c1450
hec1450
personagec1485
wretcha1500
human1509
mundane1509
member1525
worma1556
homo1561
piece of flesh1567
sconce1567
squirrel?1567
fellow creature1572
Adamite1581
bloat herringa1586
earthling1593
mother's child1594
stuff1598
a piece of flesh1600
wagtail1607
bosom1608
fragment1609
boots1623
tick1631
worthy1649
earthlies1651
snap1653
pippin1665
being1666
personal1678
personality1678
sooterkin1680
party1686
worldling1687
human being1694
water-wagtail1694
noddle1705
human subject1712
piece of work1713
somebody1724
terrestrial1726
anybody1733
individual1742
character1773
cuss1775
jig1781
thingy1787
bod1788
curse1790
his nabs1790
article1796
Earthite1814
critter1815
potato1815
personeityc1816
nibs1821
somebody1826
tellurian1828
case1832
tangata1840
prawn1845
nigger1848
nut1856
Snooks1860
mug1865
outfit1867
to deliver the goods1870
hairpin1879
baby1880
possum1894
hot tamale1895
babe1900
jobbie1902
virile1903
cup of tea1908
skin1914
pisser1918
number1919
job1927
apple1928
mush1936
face1944
jong1956
naked ape1965
oke1970
punter1975
1900 C. L. Cullen Taking Chances 52 He's uh babe, yo' heah me!
1906 H. Green At Actors' Boarding House 61 ‘How's that, babe?’ he asked coolly.
1953 S. Kauffmann Philanderer iv. 57 This Mrs. Adair..has such hotsy-totsy cottages... Yesterday this Adair babe has an ad in the paper.
1987 K. Lette Girls' Night Out (1989) 173 Took about two bloody hours to grill it, but babe, what a bloat-out.
2000 J. Harvey Gimme Gimme Gimme (2002) 69/1 Melinda: I wish I could look as good as you in a frock like that. Linda: Well wish on babe.
b. A lover; a sweetheart. Frequently as a term of endearment. Cf. baby n. 6a, sugar-babe at sugar n. 2e.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > woman > [noun]
wifeeOE
womaneOE
womanOE
queanOE
brideOE
viragoc1000
to wifeOE
burdc1225
ladyc1225
carlinec1375
stotc1386
marec1387
pigsneyc1390
fellowa1393
piecec1400
femalea1425
goddessa1450
fairc1450
womankindc1450
fellowessa1500
femininea1513
tega1529
sister?1532
minikinc1540
wyec1540
placket1547
pig's eye1553
hen?1555
ware1558
pussy?a1560
jade1560
feme1566
gentlewoman1567
mort1567
pinnacea1568
jug1569
rowen1575
tarleather1575
mumps1576
skirt1578
piga1586
rib?1590
puppy1592
smock1592
maness1594
sloy1596
Madonna1602
moll1604
periwinkle1604
Partlet1607
rib of man1609
womanship?1609
modicum1611
Gypsy1612
petticoata1616
runniona1616
birda1627
lucky1629
she-man1640
her1646
lost rib1647
uptails1671
cow1696
tittup1696
cummer17..
wife1702
she-woman1703
person1704
molly1706
fusby1707
goody1708
riding hood1718
birdie1720
faggot1722
piece of goods1727
woman body1771
she-male1776
biddy1785
bitch1785
covess1789
gin1790
pintail1792
buer1807
femme1814
bibi1816
Judy1819
a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823
wifie1823
craft1829
shickster?1834
heifer1835
mot1837
tit1837
Sitt1838
strap1842
hay-bag1851
bint1855
popsy1855
tart1864
woman's woman1868
to deliver the goods1870
chapess1871
Dona1874
girl1878
ladykind1878
mivvy1881
dudess1883
dudette1883
dudine1883
tid1888
totty1890
tootsy1895
floozy1899
dame1902
jane1906
Tom1906
frail1908
bit of stuff1909
quim1909
babe1911
broad1914
muff1914
manhole1916
number1919
rossie1922
bit1923
man's woman1928
scupper1935
split1935
rye mort1936
totsy1938
leg1939
skinny1941
Richard1950
potato1957
scow1960
wimmin1975
womyn1975
womxn1991
the world > people > person > woman > [noun] > as form of address
womanc1225
madamc1300
sisterc1450
niece1488
girl1562
Madonna1584
young woman1683
princess1709
Sitt1838
babe1911
modom1920
mama1979
1911 L. Hart Compl. Lyrics (1986) 4/1 Oh, ma babe, waltz with me, kid. Gee, you've got me off ma lid.
1926 J. F. Dobie Rainbow in Morning (1965) 162 But I like my Houston babe.
1952 E. Brown Trespass xvi. 150 ‘Really babe,’ she said, ‘really, I'm sorry’.
1990 N.Y. Times 28 Dec. c2/4 An usher tried to remove the heckler, who said to the woman he was with, ‘Let's go, babe’. To which the feminist Reno screamed, ‘Don't call your wife babe!’
2004 G. Behrendt & L. Tuccillo He's just not that into You 71 I love you so much you're the best thing that ever happened to me, babe.
c. An attractive (esp. young) woman. Cf. baby n. 6c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [noun] > attractive person > woman
morsela1450
honeypot1618
enchantera1704
peach1710
enchantress1713
sparkler1713
enslaver1728
witch1740
fascinatress1799
honey1843
biscuit1855
fairy1862
baby1863
scorcher1881
cracker1891
peacherino1896
hot tamale1897
mink1899
hotty?1913
babe1915
a bit of skirt1916
cookie1917
tomato1918
snuggle-pup1922
nifty1923
brahma1925
package1931
ginch1934
blonde bombshell1942
beast1946
smasher1948
a bit of crackling1949
nymphet1955
nymphette1961
fox1963
beaver1968
superbabe1970
brick house1977
nubile1977
yummy mummy1993
1915 Dial. Notes 4 231 Babe, a pretty girl. ‘She's some babe.’
1957 R. Leckie Helmet for my Pillow iii. vi. 134 Think of all them babes lining the street.
1970 J. Bouton Ball Four ii. 38 One time in Ft. Lauderdale we spotted this babe getting out of her bathing suit... Pretty soon there were twenty-five of us jostling for position.
2004 K. A. Corlett Ever your Servant xx. 281 ‘Ooo–get a load of the goozongkers on that one!’.. ‘Now there's a real babe!’
d. In plural. Used as a familiar or affectionate form of address for a person of either sex.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > familiar form of address
mon amic1425
matec1500
boy1532
old lad1594
old boy1602
captaina1616
mon cher1673
old chap1823
old man1828
ou maat1838
boysie1846
old top1856
boetie1867
bra1869
cocker1888
mon vieux1888
face1891
yessir1892
George1903
old sport1905
old bean1917
segotia1917
babe1918
bro1918
tovarish1918
old egg1919
midear1921
old (tin of) fruit1923
sport1923
mush1936
cowboy1961
coz1961
wack1963
yaar1963
John1982
1918 Pacific Reporter 172 296/1 He returned to the apartment, ascended quietly, and whispered, ‘Hello, Babes!’
1953 W. Fisher Waiters viii. 162 Pay 'em no mind, babes.
1985 B. E. Ellis Less than Zero 13 ‘Hey Clay,’ Trent says... ‘Trent,’ I say. ‘How are you babes?’
1997 L. Hird Nail & Other Stories (1999) 136 He's a nice guy, bit of a bloody blether but intelligent sounding. You'll like him, babes, honestly.
2003 R. Gervais & S. Merchant Office: Scripts 2nd Ser. Episode 4. 161 Tim: I think we'd better stay out of it. Dawn: Yep. Definitely. Wise. Alright babes.
e. A sexually attractive man.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [noun] > attractive person > man
Prince Charming1855
Valentino1930
dreamboat1941
smasher1948
hunk1966
babe1973
oppa2009
1973 in J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1994) I. 55/2 He's a real babe... Mr. America!
1983 Los Angeles Times 23 Aug. vi. 1/1 He is such a babe... He is definitely cuter than Rick Springfield.
1994 J. Evanovich One for Money 124 He's a serious babe... I had all I could do to keep from sinking my teeth into his butt.
2009 D. Carter Peer Pleasure xxi. 133 There wasn't one, not one picture of a boy anywhere in sight, not even the singer Mario, who was a complete babe.
Phrases
babe in arms n. a very young child, not yet able to walk; a baby; cf. arm n.1 Phrases 1b.
ΚΠ
1731 R. Traill 29 Serm. x. 150 Old dying Simeon calls him [sc. Christ], when a Babe in Arms, God's Salvation.
1796 ‘M. Fitz John’ Joan! III. xix. 273 I have not seed her sin she were a babe in arms.
1821 Cottager's Monthly Visitor Apr. 183 The Princess Amelia, then a babe in arms, made one of the party.
1857 Dwight's Jrnl. Music 19 Sept. 196/2 Woe be to the unlucky female whose babe in arms begins to cry during the prima donna's cadenza, as babes in arms at the opera always do.
1912 J. N. McIlwraith Diana of Quebec vii. 94 She had brought three little children with her, one a babe in arms.
1999 L. Barnes Flashpoint 300 Fashion, I'm told, is ultra-important in the age of mallcrawlers and designer togs for babes in arms.
babe in the wood n. (also babe in the woods) [after the title of the traditional tale Babes in the Wood, in which two children are abandoned in a wood; first published by Thomas Millington in 1595, as a ballad entitled The Norfolk Tragedy] allusive a person likened in some way to the ‘babes in the wood’, esp. in being an innocent or naive person in a potentially dangerous situation; usually in plural.
ΚΠ
1795 W. B. Stevens Jrnl. 26 Mar. (1965) 245 Wishes himself at home, restrained only by Principle and a Sense of Duty—A tale to tell the Babes in the Wood!
a1865 E. C. Gaskell Wives & Daughters (1866) I. xi. 131 Molly and her future stepmother wandered about in the gardens..hand in hand, like two babes in the wood.
1892 Two Tales 3 296 I heard Nursie say ta Anne the cook, ‘poor little babes in the woods, may the good Lord pity and protect them.’
1926 M. Cowley Let. 26 July in Sel. Corr. K. Burke & M. Cowley (1988) 176 She and Allen..give the impression of babes in the wood, unable to cope with the complexities of modern life.
1990 Changing Times Jan. 41/1 Buyers aren't babes in the woods when it comes to the local market.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > child > [noun] > illegitimate child
avetrolc1300
bastardc1330
misbegetc1330
whoresonc1330
horcop14..
get?a1513
misbegotten1546
misbegot1558
mamzer1562
base1571
bantling1593
by-blow1595
by-chopa1637
by-scape1646
by-slipa1670
illegitimate1673
stall-whimper1676
love brata1700
slink1702
child, son of shame1723
babe of love1728
adulterine1730
come-by-chance?1750
byspel1781
love-child1805
come-o'-will1815
chance-child1838
chance-bairn1863
side-slip1872
fly-blow1875
catch colt1901
illegit1913
outside child1930
1728 A. Pope Dunciad ii. 137 Two babes of love close clinging to her waste.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 51 Recorded next a babe of love I trace! Of many loves, the mother's fresh disgrace.
1887 J. H. Beidler Pre-Adamic Advent Homo & Homodine iv. 25 The withered form of nursing babes of love, How oft I've found conveying them above, The child of passion, fatherless of care, Unwelcome waif to daughter of despair.
babe in Christ n. a new convert to Christianity.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > preaching > conversion > [noun] > one who has undergone > new > collectively
babe in Christ1526
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Cor. iii. 1 As vnto carnall, even as it were vnto babes in Christ.
1619 F. Rous Arte of Happines iii. 266 Being now at least babes in Christ, wee must desire and sucke the sincere Milke of the Word, that wee may grow thereby.
1738 S. Tipping Scriptural Doctr. Regeneration Stated 20 in Serm. preached before Univ. Oxf. We are most properly then new born and regenerated, when the Change is wrought, when we become Babes in Christ, when we begin our spiritual Life.
1824 Amer. Baptist Mag. new ser. Jan. 241/2 Let our recipe be honestly followed, and the babe in Christ shall be nourished up into sound doctrine.
1903 A. S. Johnson Holy Spirit & Human Mind xvi. 352 The first converts to Christ were considered and designated babes in Christ.
2004 D. Anderson Multicultural Ministry iii. vi. 97 After a person has converted, he or she is identified as a new believer, also known as a babe in Christ.
Compounds
C1. General attributive, similative, objective, etc.
ΚΠ
1647 H. More Philos. Poems iii. App. lxxxvi A young babe-soul from thence to gain.
1798 in R. H. Thornton Amer. Gloss. (1912) 26 Donations received at the Tents near Schuylkill, for the use of the poor. Two bundles new babe clothes.
1826 W. Scott Woodstock II. viii. 218 We, the babe-eaters, had too many acquaintances at Brentford.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xxii. i, in Maud & Other Poems 74 He came with the babe-faced lord.
1868 People's Mag. 1 Apr. 213 (title of verses) Babe-wisdom.
1929 D. H. Lawrence Let. 7 May (2001) VII. 271 Those babe-faced pussy-footing thieves make one very tired.
2005 R. N. Peck Weeds in Bloom (2007) iii. 193 Please ask the cook to puncture the yolks so they don't stare at me like I'm babe-naked.
C2.
babe magnet n. colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.) a man who is attractive to women; (also) something perceived as contributing to a man's attractiveness.
ΚΠ
1989 Washington Post 22 Feb. c1/4 The excitement is very much divided between the sexes... He's a babe magnet.
1993 Chicago Tribune 2 Mar. ii. 2/3 Just between us guys, I've got some cars that are real babe-magnets.
2008 L. McDaniel Prey 17 Shouldn't you ask if I look good to girls? I'm not exactly a babe magnet.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.a1393