babiche

First attested around 1800–10. From Canadian French, from Mi'kmaq ápapíj (“cord, thread”), diminutive of ápapi, from Proto-Algonquian *aʔlapa·py, *aʔlapa·pyi, from *aʔlapy- (“net”) + *-a·py (“string”).

• IPA^(key): /bəˈbiːʃ/, /bæˈbiːʃ/
• Hyphenation: ba‧biche

babiche (plural babiches)

1. (Canada, US) Thong(s) of rawhide or sinew used as cord, lacing, or webbing, in the manufacture of snowshoes, braided straps and tumplines, fishing and harpoon lines, knit bags, etc.

• Gadacz, René R. (2008). “Babiche”, in the Canadian Encyclopedia.

• Katherine Barber, editor (1998), “babiche”, in The Canadian Oxford Dictionary, Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.
• “babiche”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• Elizabeth J. Jewell, Frank Abate, Erin McKean, editors (2005), “babiche”, in The New Oxford American Dictionary, 2nd edition, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.

• IPA^(key): /ba.biʃ/

  • Audio (Canada (Shawinigan)):

    (file)

• Homophone: babiches

Borrowed from Mi'kmaq ápapíj (“cord, thread”). See above.

babiche f (plural babiches)

1. (Louisiana, Quebec) babiche
2. (Louisiana) old, ragged garment
3. (Louisiana) small bits, shards, shavings
4. (Louisiana) energy (clarification of this definition is needed.)

• babichon

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

babiche f (plural babiches)

1. (Louisiana) mouth
   • 2010, Albert Valdman, et al., Dictionary of Louisiana French as Spoken in Cajun, Creole, and American Indian Communities, page 53:

     Ferme ta babiche.

     Shut your mouth.

2. (Louisiana) grimace, pout (facial expression of displeasure or sulkiness)

• prendre une babiche (“to pout”)

• “babiche”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012
• Dictionary of Louisiana French: As Spoken in Cajun, Creole, and American Indian Communities (2009; →ISBN; →ISBN)