/bayb/ , n.
1. a baby or child.
2. an innocent or inexperienced person.
3. ( usually cap. ) Southern U.S. (used, often before the surname, as a familiar name for a boy or man, esp. the youngest of a family.)
4. Slang
a. Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. a girl or woman, esp. an attractive one.
b. ( sometimes cap. ) an affectionate or familiar term of address (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., esp. by a male to a female).
5. babe in the woods , an innocent, unsuspecting person, esp. one likely to be victimized by others: Some highly informed people are mere babes in the woods where the stock market is concerned.
Also, babe in the wood .
[ 1150-1200; 1915-20 for def. 4; ME; early ME baban, prob. nursery word in origin ]
Syn. 1. toddler, infant, tot, nursling.