Definition of bib

The word "bib" can be traced back to the Middle English period, where it was spelled as "bybbe" or "bybye." This word, in turn, can be traced back to the Old French word "bpibe," which meant "apron." The Old French word "bpibe" was a derivative of the Late Latin word "pappus," meaning "child's food." In medieval Europe, infants were often fed with their hands, and the implements used to contain the food were made of linen, cotton, or leather. These coverings were shaped like a square or a triangular flap with ties or strings on the sides, making them easy to fasten around a baby's neck. The word "bib" was also associated with a similar object called a "buffer" or "breadboard," which was used by children to catch crumbs and food spills during mealtimes. Over time, the use of the word "bib" became more specific, referring only to the infant's feeding implement. The modern bib is still shaped like a triangular flap or a rectangle with a pocket, but it is now commonly made of plastic, silicone, or fabric and comes in various colors, patterns, and designs to suit different occasions and tastes. Regardless of the material or style, the bib's primary function remains the same: to shield a baby's clothes from food messes during feeding time.