noun
Meaning 1
A wooden doll, generally without arms or joints, painted and dressed in current fashions.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
Examples
- 1667, Roger L'Estrange (translator), The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, London: H. Herringman, The Fifth Vision of the World, p. 162, For He could neither Bow, nor move his Hat to any man that saluted him: No, nor so much as turn from One side to the Other; but sate as if He had been Box’d up, like a Bartlemy-Baby.
- 1677, Hannah Woolley, The Compleat Servant-Maid, London: T. Passinger, The Epistle to all Young Maidens, For there is no Sober, Honest, and Discreet man, but will make choice of one, that hath Gained the Reputation of a Good and Complete Servant, for his Wife, rather than one who can do nothing but Trick up her self fine, and like a Bartholomew Baby is fit for nothing else but to be looked upon.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Bartlemy baby
Antonyms: none provided