bib
UK[bɪb]US[bɪb]
n
A piece of cloth or plastic fastened under a child's chin to protect its clothes while eating.
n
The part of an apron or pair of overalls that covers the chest.
Etymology
The word 'bib' emerged in English in the late 16th century, likely as a reduplication or imitation of the sound 'bib' associated with a baby's drinking. This onomatopoeic origin directly links the word's form to its primary function—an item used during infant feeding. From this core idea of catching drips from a drinking infant, the meaning expanded to denote any protective cloth covering the chest, such as on an apron or overalls. Its journey exemplifies how simple, imitative sounds in language can crystallize into concrete nouns for everyday objects.
Analysis
The word 'bib' is a simplex word of onomatopoeic origin, imitating the sound of a baby's lips and mouth movements while drinking or eating.
Examples
The baby wore a brightly colored bib to catch the spaghetti sauce.
He wiped his hands on the bib of his carpenter's overalls.
Always put a bib on your infant before starting to feed them.