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

"I gots yo back @jordanchiles," Flavor Falv wrote in an Instagram post showing the bauble.

From Salon

But if “The Instigators” isn’t peddling originality, the least it could do is justify its own existence by delivering a delightful bauble that reaffirms our affection for these stars and this milieu.

From Los Angeles Times

The first film for the 85-year-old Coppola since his 2011 horror bauble “Twixt,” “Megalopolis,” a personal obsession of the director’s since at least the 1980s, invites words like “summation” and “capstone.”

From Los Angeles Times

The family of a gran with the world's largest bauble collection say Christmas just isn't the same without her.

From BBC

Sylvia Pope, who died in April, was known as Nanna Baubles and held the Guinness World Record for her almost 2,000-strong bauble collection.

From BBC

Related Words

• knickknack
• trinket