bib

Meanings

Noun

• An item of clothing for people (especially babies) tied around their neck to protect their clothes from getting dirty when eating.
• Similar items of clothing such as the Chinese dudou and Vietnamese yem.
• A rectangular piece of material, carrying a bib number, worn as identification by entrants in a race.
• A colourful polyester or plastic vest worn over one's clothes, usually to mark one's team during group activities.
• The upper part of an apron or overalls.
• A patch of colour around an animal's upper breast and throat.
• A north Atlantic fish (Trisopterus luscus), allied to the cod.
• A bibcock.

Verb

• To dress (somebody) in a bib.
• To drink heartily; to tipple.
• To beep (e.g. a car horn).

Origin

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