babbler 
TimaUida! or subfamily Timaliinte of Turdidae, 
an uncertain group of generally short-winged 
and short-tailed birds, definable by no common 
characters. It contains a great number of birds not 
satisfactorily located elsewhere, and has been called " the 
ornithological waste-basket. " 
3. In hunting, a dog that yelps or gives tongue 
too much when in the field. 
After a fox has been found, the babbler announces the 
fact for the next ten minutes, and repeats his refrain 
whenever the least opportunity presents itself. 
Encyc. Brit., XII. 315. 
babbleryH, . [< babble + -ry. Cf. F. babil- 
ti-ric (Cotgrave), babble.] Babbling; chatter- 
ing; idle talk. Stubbes. 
babblery 2 t, [Early mod. E. babblerie, bab- 
Icric, appar. for babery or ba_ublery.] Some- 
thing worthless ; worthless things collectively. 
Nares. 
Other toyes, fantasies, and bableries, whereof the world 
is fill, are suffered to be printed. Stubbes, Anat. of Abuses. 
babbling (bab'ling), 11. [Verbal n. of babble, 
v.] Foolish talk. 
Avoiding profane and vain babblings. 1 Tim. vi. 20. 
babblingly (bab'ling-li), adv. In a babbling 
manner; with babblement ; pratingly. 
babblishlyt (bab'lish-li), adv. Babblingly. 
babbly (bab'li), a. [< babble + -y.] Full of 
babble; chattering. 
babby (bab'i), re. [E. dial., = baby, q. v.] A 
baby. [Prov. Eng.] 
babe (bab), n. [< ME. babe, prob. abbr. of 
earlier baban; origin obscure, perhaps ult. imi- 
tative; cf. 62. The Celtic words (W. Gael. 
Ir. Corn, baban = Manx baban, bab, a babe, 
child ; regarded by Skeat after Williams (Lex. 
Cornu-Brit.) as a mutation of *maban, dim. of 
W. mab, a son, = Gael. Ir. Manx mac, a son, 
= Goth, magus, a boy, = AS. magu, a son, 
related to may 1 , may*, might) are late, and 
may be from E.] 1. An infant ; a young child 
of either sex. 2f. A child's doll. 
All as a poore pedler he did wend, 
Bearing a trusse of tryfles at hys backe, 
As bells, and babe*, and glasses, in hys packe. 
Spenser, Shep. Cal., May. 
3. One who is like a babe in any respect ; a 
person of infantine or childish character or 
ability: as, he is a mere babe in that man's 
hands Babe In arms. See armi. Babe In Christ, 
a recent convert to Christianity (1 Cor. iii. 1). 
babehood (bab'hud), n. [< babe + -hood.] Same 
as babyhood. Udall. 
Babel (ba'bel), n. [LL. Babel, < Heb. Babel, re- 
ferred in Genesis to the notion of 'confusion'; 
but perhaps < Assyrian bab-ilu, lit. gate of God, 
or bab-ili, gate of the gods, < 606, gate, + ilu 
= Heb. el, God: see Elohim and Allah."] 1. 
The Semitic name of the city (Babylon) where, 
according to Gen. ix., the construction of a tower 
that would reach to heaven was attempted, and 
where the confusion of tongues took place. See 
Babylonian. Hence 2. A lofty structure. 
3. A visionary scheme. 4. A scene of noise 
and confusion, as a great city or a riotous as- 
semblage. 
"Tis pleasant, through the loopholes of retreat, 
To peep at such a world to see the stir 
Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd. 
Coirper, The Task, iv. 90. 
5. [cap. or I. c.] A confused mixture of sounds ; 
confusion; disorder. 
That babel of strange heathen languages. 
Hammond, Sermons, p. 508. 
Babel quartz. See quartz. 
baberyt (ba'ber-i), n. [< ME. babery, earlier 
babeurie, babeutvrie, etc., appar. corrupt forms 
of babicynrie, baboonery (see baboonery); but 
in later use < babe + -ery.] 1. Grotesque or- 
namentation in art or architecture, as carved 
human figures or other decorations. 
Many subtile compassinges, 
As babeuwryex and pynacles, 
Ymageries and tabernacles, 
I saugh. Chaucer, House of Fame, 1. 1189. 
2. Finery to please a child ; any trifling toy for 
children: as, "painted babery," Sir P. Sidney, 
Arcadia, x. 181. 
babiant, babiont, . [Also baboyne, etc., vari- 
ant forms of baboon, q. v.] A baboon. B. 
Jonson; Massinger. 
babillard (bab'i-lard), n. [F., < babiller, chat- 
ter: see babble.] The chatterer: a name bor- 
rowed from the French by Rennie for the lesser 
white-throat, Sylvia curruca of Europe, la fau- 
vette babittarde of Buffon. [Bare.] 
babingtonite (bab'ing-ton-It), n. [After the 
mineralogist William Babington (1756-1833).] 
A vitreous dark-green or bla.ck mineral of the 
pyroxene group, occurring in small brilliant 
408 
triclinic crystals in beds of magnetic iron ore 
and in veins of quartz and feldspar. It is a 
silicate of iron, manganese, and calcium. 
Babington's-curse (bab'ing-tonz-kers), n. The 
water-weed, Elodea Canadensis : so called in 
England from the false supposition that it was 
introduced there by the botanist Charles Bab- 
ington (born about 1808). 
babiont, . See babian. 
babir (ba'ber), n . A Syrian name for the papy- 
rus. 
babirussa, babiroussa (bab-i-ro'sa), . [Also 
formerly babirusa, barbirousa, etc. (NL. babinis- 
sa), < Malay babi, hog, + rusa, deer.] 1. The 
East Indian wild hog or horned hog. The upper 
East Indian Wild Hog (Babirussa al/urus). 
canines of the boar are sometimes 12 inches in length, and 
nearly reach the forehead ; the lower pair partake of the 
same unusual development and direction, but not to the 
same extent, nor do they pierce the lips. The tusks of the 
sow are much smaller. The general appearance of the ani- 
mal is that of a hog, but the legs are longer and the pelage 
is less bristly. The babirussa is gregarious and herbivo- 
rous, like the rest of the pig tribe, and its flesh is used for 
food ; it is sometimes domesticated. 
2. [cap."] A genus of setiferous pachyderma- 
tous ungulate quadrupeds, of the order Artiodac- 
tyla, or even-toed ungulates, and family Suidts, 
containing only the babirussa. 
Also spelled babyrussa, babyroussa. 
babisht (ba'bish), a. [< babe + -ish 1 .] Like a 
babe; babyish. 
If he be bashful and will soon blush, they call him a 
babteh and ill brought up thing. 
Aseham, The Scholemaster, 1. 
babishlyt (ba'bish-li), adv. In the manner of a 
babe; babyishly. 
bahishnesst (ba'bish-nes), n. Babyishness; 
childishness. 
Babism (bab'ism), n. [< Pers. Babi, Babism (< 
bob, a gate, the name assumed by the founder 
of the sect, who claimed that no one could come 
to know God except through him: see Bab 3 ), 
+ -ism.~\ A religious, political, and social sys- 
tem founded in Persia about 1843 by Seyd Mo- 
hammed Ali, a native of Shiraz, who pretended 
to be descended from Mohammed, it Is a pan- 
theistic offshoot of Mohammedanism, tinctured with Gnos- 
tic, Buddhistic, and Jewish ideas. It inculcates a high mo- 
rality ; discountenances polygamy ; forbids concubinage, 
asceticism, and mendicancy ; recognizes the equality of 
the sexes ; and encourages the practice of charity, hospi- 
tality, and abstinence from intoxicants of all kinds. 
Babist (bab'ist), n. [< Pers. Babi (see Babism) 
+ -ist.] A believer in Babism. 
bablah (bab'la), n. [See babul.'] The pod of 
several species of Acacia, especially of A. Ara- 
bica, which comes from the East and from Sene- 
gal under the name of neb-neb, it contains gallic 
acid aud tannin, and has been used in dyeing cotton for 
producing various shades of drab. The seeds are said to 
contain a red coloring matter, and to be used in India and 
Egypt for dyeing morocco. Also called babool, babul, and 
babulah. See cut under acacia. 
bablativet, a. See babblative, 
bable't, bable 2 t, n. See bauble^, bauble*. 
Bable 3 (ba'bla), n. A dialect of Spanish, spo- 
ken in Asturias. Encye. Brit., II. 824. 
baboo, n. See babu. 
babool, n. Same as bablah. 
baboon (ba-bon'), n. [Early mod. E. also ba- 
boone, baboune, babound (also babion, bdbian (< 
Baboon (Cynotephahts ntafmon}. 
baby 
F. babion), and bavian, after D. Itaviaan, LG. 
bavian, > Dan. bavian, G. pavian), < ME. bubc- 
wync, babiryn, babwcn, baboyne, etc., < OF. ba- 
buin, baboin, babouin, babion, mod. F. babouin 
= Sp. Pg. babuino = It.babbuiiio; ML. babc- 
irynun, babervynus, babuynus, babouinns. The 
OF. forms appear to be the oldest. The origin 
of the name is unknown. The Ar. maimun is 
prob. from the European word.] A quadruma- 
nous animal of the old world, of the subfamily 
CynopitheciiKe, and especially of either of the 
genera Cynoevphalus (or Pajrio) and Mandrilla 
(or Mormon). The baboon has a large prominent muz- 
zle and a low facial angle, constituting a physiognomy 
to which the term "dog-faced" has been applied. It 
has cheek-pouches, large canine teeth, tail usually short 
(whence the term " pig-tailed " applied to some), and larjit- 
bare ischial callosities, often gayly colored. Its fore and 
hind limbs are proportionate, so that the animal can go 
upon all-fours like ordinary quadrupeds, or sit upright liku 
most other monkeys. Baboons are generally large, heavy 
animals, some equaling a mastiff in size and weight, and 
are amongthe most sullen, intractable, ferocious, and filthy 
brutes of the order to which they belong. Most of them 
are African, and they are usually gregarious, goingin large 
troops, and feeding on fruits, roots, birds' eggs, insects, 
etc. Among those which have special names are the anu- 
bis, chacma, mandrill, drill, etc. Some of the (Juaiin!- 
iiinnii which belong technically to the same group as the 
baboons do not usually take the name, as the black :ipe 
of Celebes, Cynojritkectw niger, and the Barbary ape, Inu- 
us ecaiidattu; while some monkeys of other groups are 
occasionally called balloons. 
baboonery (ba-bon'e-ri), .; pi. babooneries 
(-riz). [< baboon + -e'i-y.] If. Same as babery, 
1. 2. A collection of baboons. 3. Baboonish 
conduct or condition. 
baboonish (ba-b6n'ish), . [< baboon + -w/i 1 .] 
Like a baboon ; characteristic of baboons. 
A series of baboonish chuckles and grins. 
Pop. Sci. ilu., XXIX. 660. 
baboosh (ba-bosh'), n. [Also babouclie, after F. 
babouche (usually pi., baboucties) = Sp. babuclia 
(pi. babuchas), < Ar. bdbftsh, < Pers. paposh, a 
slipper, < pa, = E. foot, + posh, covering; cf. 
poshidan, cover.] A kind of slipper without 
quarters or heel, worn in Turkey and the East. 
Babouvism (ba-b6'vizm), n. [< F. babom-isme, 
< Babeuf (Babceuf) + -isnie.] The communistic 
system promulgated by the French socialist 
Francois Noel Babeuf during the revolution. 
Its fundamental principles were summed up in the sen- 
tence : "The aim of society is the happiness of all, and 
happiness consists in equality." By " equality " was meant 
absolute uniformity in dress, food, elementary education, 
etc. The property of corporations was to be seized at once, 
and that of individuals at their death. Officers chosen by 
the people were to have unlimited powers to divide the 
product of the industry of all, according to the needs and 
requirements of each. A great conspiracy was organized 
by Babeuf and his followers for the establishment of a new 
government based on these principles, but it was betrayed 
to the Directory in May, 1796, and Babeuf was executed 
in May, 1797. Also Baeovimi. 
Babouvist (ba-bo'vist), n. [< F. baboitviste: see 
Babouvism.] A follower of the French social- 
ist Babeuf, or an adherent of Babouvism. 
babu (ba-bo'), " [Also (as E.) baboo; <Hind. 
babu, a title of respect ; in Canarese it means 
father. Cf. baba.] A Hindu title of address, 
equivalent to sir or Mr., given to gentlemen, 
clerks, etc. : formerly applied in some parts of 
Hindustan to certain persons of distinction. 
"In Bengal and elsewhere, among Anglo-Indians, it is of- 
ten used with a slight savor of disparagement, as charac- 
terizing a superficially cultivated but too often effemi- 
nate Bengali ; and from the extensive employment of the 
class to which the term was applied as a title in the ca- 
pacity of clerks in English offices, the word has come often 
to signify ' a native clerk who writes English. ' " Yule and 
Burnett, Anglo-Ind. Gloss. 
babuina (bab-u-i'na), n. [ML., fern, of babui- 
nus: see baboon.] A female baboon. 
The depravity of an old babuina, or female Bhunder 
baboon. Pop. Sci. Mo., XX. 398. 
babul (ba-bol'), n. [Also written babool, babu- 
lah, repr. Hind, baliul, a species of Acacia."] 
Same as bablah. 
baby (ba'bi), n. and a. [Also dial, babby ; early 
mod. E. also babie, < ME. babee, babi, dim. of 
babe.] I. n.; pi. babies (-biz). 1. An infant or 
young child of either sex; a babe. 
I knew them all as babies, and now they're elderly men. 
Tennyson, The Grandmother. 
2f. A doll. 
The archduke aw that Perkin would prove a runagate ; 
and it was the part of children to fall out about babies. 
Bacon. 
These [boxes] are to have Folding-Doors, which being 
open'd, you are to behold a Baby dress'd out in some 
Fashion which has fiourisli'd, and standing upon a Pedes- 
tal, where the Time of its Reign is mark'd down. 
Spectator, No. 478. 
3f. [Cf . E. pupil, < L. papilla, a girl, the pupil 
of the eye.] The minute reflection which a 
person sees of himself in the pupil of another's 
eye. There are many allusions to this in our older poets ; 
