babe etymology

Etymology:

The word "babe" has two distinct etymologies:

• From the Proto-Germanic word: "*babōn" (meaning "baby")
• From the Middle English word: "babbe" (a term of endearment for a woman, possibly related to the Proto-Celtic "babos" (meaning "child"))

Meaning:

"Babe" has several meanings:

• A baby or young child
• A term of endearment for a loved one or someone perceived as innocent or naive
• A fool or idiot (used in an archaic or derogatory sense)
• A beautiful or attractive person (used in a slang sense)

Origin:

The Proto-Germanic "babōn" is thought to be onomatopoeic, imitating the babbling sounds made by babies. The Middle English "babbe" may also have originated as an onomatopoeia, or it may have been derived from the Proto-Celtic "*babos." The word "babe" has been in use in English since the 13th century.

babe relate terms

• babble

  Etymology The word babble is derived from the following sources Old English babel

• babbling

  Etymology The word babbling comes from the Middle English word bablen which is deri

• baby

  Etymology The word baby is derived from the Middle English word babe which origina

• babe

  Etymology The word babe has two distinct etymologies From the Proto Germanic word

• pupil

  Etymology The word pupil comes from the Latin word pupilla which originally meant t

• infant

  Etymology The word infant comes from the Latin word infans which means not speaking

• daredevil

  Etymology The word daredevil is a compound of two words Dare Middle English daren

• wife

  Etymology Old English wīf meaning woman as opposed to husband meaning man

• cherub

  Etymology The word cherub comes from the Hebrew word כרֻב keruḇ meaning a cr

• child

  Etymology The word child is derived from the Old English word cild which is itself

• girl

  Etymology The word girl is derived from the Middle English word girl which in turn

• miss

  Etymological Origin The word miss has its roots in two languages Middle English mi

• resist

  Etymology The word resist comes from the Latin word resistere which means to stand