Baubel

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small, decorative ornament often used for festive occasions ; an inexpensive or showy trinket lacking substantial value ; a flashy item intended primarily for visual appeal rather than practical use
2. A minor ornamental object typically employed during celebrations ; a cheap and gaudy accessory considered to have little worth ; an eye-catching but trivial decoration used to embellish or adorn
3. A diminutive decoration commonly hung on trees or displayed during holidays ; a low-cost decorative piece regarded as lacking significance ; a bright and superficial embellishment designed to attract attention rather than serve function

Etymology: At medieval courts, a bauble was a short staff topped with a carved head, carried by a jester as a sign of his office. The fool's baton gave the word one of its earliest senses, and the showy trinket came to dominate its meaning. The word came into English from Old French "babel," which meant a plaything or trifle. Its ultimate origin is uncertain. Some scholars have linked it to imitative baby-talk, but no firm proof has been found, so the trail ends in French.

Synonyms: bauble, trinket, knickknack, ornament, gadgets

Antonyms: essential, necessity, requirement, necessaries, necessities