bassinet
UK[ˌbæs.ɪˈnet]US[ˈbæs.ə.net]
n
a small bed for a baby, often with a hood and sometimes mounted on a stand so it can be rocked.
Morpheme Breakdown
bassin
et
bassin
basin
et
diminutive suffix
Etymology
the word 'bassinet' entered english from french in the 17th century. its french source, 'bassinet', is a diminutive of 'bassin', meaning 'basin'. this connection is literal: the earliest bassinets were often basket-like cradles with a hood, their shape reminiscent of a small, shallow basin or dish. the semantic journey, therefore, is from a general term for a water vessel to a specific, small, cradle-like bed for an infant, capturing the object's form and function.
Analysis
Structure: bassin (basin) + et (diminutive suffix)
bassin is from french, meaning 'basin' or 'dish', ultimately from late latin 'bacchinus', a derivative of latin 'bacca' (water vessel). the suffix -et is a french diminutive suffix, indicating a small version of something.
Examples
the newborn slept soundly in the wicker bassinet beside the parents' bed.
they chose a portable bassinet with a canopy for the first few months.
the antique bassinet, passed down through generations, was beautifully crafted.