bibb
UK[bɪb]US[bɪb]
n
A short, detachable pipe or spout, especially one on a faucet to which a hose can be attached.
n
A bracket or support for a shelf or a ship's mast.
n
A bibcock.
Etymology
The word 'bibb' is an eponym, originating from the proper name 'Bibb'. Its most common modern usage refers to a type of faucet or a plumbing fixture, a meaning that developed in the 19th century. The term entered the lexicon as a commercial or trade name that became generalized, a common process in English for tools and fixtures. The semantic shift from a surname to a concrete object follows the pattern of other eponyms, where an inventor's or popularizer's name becomes attached to their creation.
Analysis
This word is a simplex, likely derived from a personal name and does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The gardener attached the hose to the bibb on the side of the house.
The plumber replaced the old, leaky bibb with a new frost-proof model.
The carpenter installed a wooden bibb to support the corner shelf.