babiole

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian babbola. The suffix is influenced by frequent forms such as bestiole, cabriole.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ba.bjɔl/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

babiole f (plural babioles)

  1. useless or worthless thing; a trinket [from 16th century]
    Mais surtout n'va pas dépenser plus qu'il ne faut. N'achète pas un tas de rubans et de babioles qui ne servent à rien.
    But especially don't go spend more than necessary. Don't buy a bunch of ribbons and useless trinkets.
    • 2019, Fabrizio Dori, Le dieu vagabond, Paris: Sarbacane, translation of Il dio vagabondo, →ISBN, page 122:
      Je… C'est une longue histoire. Je cherche une babiole, un sphinx.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

References

Further reading