▪ I. † ˈbabish, v. Obs.
Also 5–6 babysh(e.
[? f. OF. baubiss- lengthened stem of baubir to mock, ridicule; cf. babuse, babuise, mockery. Perhaps influenced in use by babish adj.]
To scoff at, scorn; to treat with contempt as mere children.
| c 1460 Townley Myst. 78 Josephe. Thay excusyd hir thus sothly..And babyshed me that was old. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John vii, The Phariseis had babished the simple people with fained and colde religion. 1549 Olde Erasm. Par. 1 Tim. ii. 15 We do not thus babyshe woman⁓kynde, as thoughe we woulde exclude them from..saluation. [Cf. Sc. ‘Babbis, To scoff, to gibe; to browbeat.’ Jam.] |
▪ II. babish, a. arch.
(ˈbeɪbɪʃ)
[f. babe + -ish.]
1. Of or befitting a babe; infantile, baby-like.
| 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 593/2 Their deedes..verye babishe and veniall. c 1670 Bunyan Conf. Faith Wks. 72 The actors herein have been counted babish Christians. 1855 Singleton Virgil II. 459 Her babish darts From tender hand she flung. |
2. contemptuously, Babyish, childish, silly.
| 1553–87 Foxe A. & M. 1173/1 You babishe infantes and noddies. 1653 S. Fisher Baby Bapt. To Rdr. 2 Empty Answers, absolute Absurdities, Babish Baflings. 1775 Ash, Babish, childish, trifling. |