Obs. Also 4 babeuwry, -eurie, 6 baberie. [perhaps orig. a spoken or written corruption of babwynrie, BABOONERY; in later use f. BABE, BABY sb. 4.] Grotesque ornamentation in architecture and books; grotesque absurdity.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 1189 (Caxton). Many subtyl compassynges, As babeuwryes [v.r. babeuries, rabewyures, rabewynnes] and pynnacles, Ymageryes and tabernacles.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, V. 1563. Ymagry ouer all … Of bestes and babery.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, Verses x. 181. Trim bookes in velvet dight With golden leaves and painted baberie.
1613. Sir E. Hoby, Counter-snarle, 13. Thus might I stuffe much paper, with many like vnsauoury Baberies.
1678. Phillips, App., Babeuries (old word), antick shapes, ridiculous forms of things.
1775. Ash, Babery, the finery with which children are delighted. Babewries, odd kind of antic works, silly things.
