noun
- a showy, usually cheap, ornament; trinket; gewgaw.
- a jester’s scepter.
noun
- a showy toy or trinket of little value; trifle
- a small, usually spherical ornament made of coloured or decorated material which is hung from the branches of a Christmas treeUsual US name: Christmas ornament
- (formerly) a mock staff of office carried by a court jester
“showy trinket or ornament,” early 14c., from Old French baubel “child’s toy, trinket,” probably a reduplication of bel, from Latin bellus “pretty” (see bene-). Or else related to babe, baby.