A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1540
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Babby, Bawby(e, n. Also: bawbie. [dim. of Bab; also in E. dial. Cf. Babie.] A baby. 1513 Doug. vii. vi. 93.
The wytles sort of forsaid babbys [R. babbyis] ȝyng 1513 Ib. xi. v. 74.
The ȝyng babbys [R., Sm. babbyis] walyng on the streyt 1527 Treasurer's Accounts V. 301.
Ane el crammessy satyne to be [the] bawby Jhesus of the Senyis [= Sciennes] ane coit 1533 Bell. Livy II. 187/10.
We bere na armoure aganis babbyis1533 Boece xii. xv. 483 (apoun infantis and innocent bawbyis).1533 Ib. xiii. xvi. 536 (ane bawbie in creddil). 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4389 (B).
I will … gif my babbeis thair disione
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"Babby n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/babby>
