bauble

noun

bau·​ble ˈbȯ-bəl 

ˈbä-

1

: trinket sense 1

He affixed the bauble, with a kiss, upon her middle finger …

—Elinor Wylie

2

: a scepter of a fool (see fool entry 1 sense 2a)

… the licensed jester … brandished his bauble …

—Sir Walter Scott

3

: something of trifling appeal

4

British : ornament

specifically : a Christmas ornament

Our tree was decorated, most tastefully, with apt baubles bought from Georg Jensen.

—Geoffrey Wolff

Synonyms

• bibelot
• curio
• curiosity
• doodad
• gaud
• gewgaw
• geegaw
• gimcrack
• kickshaw
• knickknack
• nicknack
• novelty
• ornamental
• tchotchke
• trinket

Examples of bauble in a Sentence

picked up some cheap baubles at the fair

Recent Examples on the Web

But effervescence didn’t mean that clients will snap up any shiny bauble. —Lily Templeton, WWD, 12 July 2024

Chioma also talks about seeing Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda presentation in Sardinia, which included big baubles, jewel-toned gowns, and crystalline waters. —Suzie Lechtenberg, Vogue, 11 July 2024

The unassuming bauble tracks your sleep, monitors your heart rate, and can even map your workouts. —Karina Hoshikawa, refinery29.com, 28 Mar. 2024

Sales of some of the baubles even benefit environmental non-profit organization PADI AWARE Foundation’s ocean conservation causes. —Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English babel, from Middle French

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bauble

noun

bau·​ble ˈbȯ-bəl 

ˈbäb-əl

: an object of little value