About this episode

This episode discusses the word 'bibelot', its meaning, and its historical context.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 16, 2026 is: bibelot • \BEE-buh-loh\  • noun A bibelot is a small household ornament or decorative object. // His grandfather set up a table every week at the flea market where he sold all sorts of bibelots and bric-a-brac, from ceramic figurines to tiny blown glass sculptures. See the entry > Examples: “One by one, the beads and baubles and charms and bibelots have been cleaned and polished and now they are being placed on shelves, in jars and containers, in bins, and in a bathtub in Beadniks’ new store on Main Street.” — Bob Audette, The Brattleboro (Vermont) Reformer , 21 June 2025 Did you know? The English language, it would seem, can’t get enough of synonyms for trinket , including gewgaw , gimcrack , and knickknack , just as lovers of tchotchkes can’t get enough of such ornamental trifles. Lady Charlotte Guest (1812-1895) was just such a lover of baubles and bric-a-brac. Not only was Guest an accomplished linguist, educator, publisher, and philanthropist, she also amassed collections of everything from porcelain to playing cards, which she ultimately donated to museums. We also have Guest to thank for the first…

People in this episode

Host: Merriam-Webster

Topics covered

• language
• ornaments
• trinkets
• history
• etymology

Keywords

• bibelot
• ornament
• trinket
• Lady Charlotte Guest
• etymology
• decorative object
• household
• bric-a-brac

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Paris, Vermont

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