† ˈbabery Obs.
Also 4 babeuwry, -eurie, 6 baberie.
[perhaps orig. a spoken or written corruption of babwynrie, baboonery; in later use f. babe, baby n. 4.]
Grotesque ornamentation in architecture and books; grotesque absurdity.
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame 1189 (Caxton) Many subtyl compassynges, As babeuwryes [v.r. babeuries, rabewyures, rabewynnes] and pynnacles, Ymageryes and tabernacles. c 1400 Destr. Troy v. 1563 Ymagry ouer all..Of bestes and babery. 1580 Sidney Arcad. Verses x. 181 Trim bookes in velvet dight With golden leaves and painted baberie. 1613 E. Hoby Counter-snarle 13 Thus might I stuffe much paper, with many like vnsauoury Baberies. 1678 Phillips App., Babeuries (old word), antick shapes, ridiculous forms of things. 1775 Ash, Babery, the finery with which children are delighted. Babewries, odd kind of antic works, silly things. |