Bib

Pronunciation

• IPA: /bɪb/
• Rhymes: -ɪb

Origin

Originally verb sense “drink heartily”, from Middle English bibben, either from Latin bibō ("I drink"), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₃-, or of imitative origin. Noun sense (clothing) presumably either because worn while drinking, or because the clothing itself “drinks up” spills.

Online Etymology Dictionary

Full definition of bib

Noun

1. An item of clothing for babies tied around their neck to protect their clothes from getting dirty when eating.
2. The upper part of an apron or overalls.
3. A patch of colour around an animal's upper breast and throat.
• 1950, Arthur Cleveland Bent, Life Histories of North American Wagtails, Shrikes, Vireos, and their AlliesIn summer the whole throat and breast are black, but in winter plumage the throat is white bounded by a horseshoe-shaped black bib.
• 2011, Arthur Peacock, Gettysburg the Cat (page 22)He don't look anything like the captain. This here cat has got a nice thick black coat of fur with a nice white bib and white feet.
4. An arctic fish (Gadus luscus), allied to the cod; the pout.
5. A bibcock.

Derived terms

• best bib and tucker

Verb

1. (archaic) To drink heartily; to tipple.He was constantly bibbing. — Locke.

Related terms

• bibber
• bibble