bassinet

English

Modern reproduction of a medieval cot and rattle, c. 1465

Alternative forms

• bassinette

Etymology

From French bassinet, superficially a diminutive of bassin (“basin”). Klein, however, suggests an origin from French bercelonette (itself a double diminutive of berceau (“cradle”)), with influence from bassin.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌbæsɪˈnɛt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌbæsɪˈnɛt/, /ˈbæsɪˌnɛt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

bassinet (plural bassinets)

1. A newborn baby's bed, traditionally made of woven reeds or straw.
   • 2020, Avni Doshi, Burnt Sugar, Hamish Hamilton, page 198:

     The next day, the baby sleeps in a bassinet near my bed.

2. A bascinet (type of helmet).
   • 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 11:

     Bassinets were worn in the reigns of Edward II. and III. and Richard II. by most of the English Infantry, as may be repeatedly seen in the Rolls of Parliament, and other public records.

   • 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle, The White Company, chapter 16:

     Alleyne stood by the tiller, looking backwards, the fresh wind full in his teeth, the crisp winter air tingling on his face and blowing his yellow curls from under his bassinet.

Translations

type of newborn baby's bed

• Finnish: vauvankori
• French: bercelonnette (fr) f
• German: Wiege (de) f
• Hungarian: mózeskosár (hu)
• Maori: wahakura
• Spanish: moisés (es) m
• Tarifit: tazyawt f

a bascinet

See also

• bassinet on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• basinets, besaints, bestains, stibanes

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba.si.nɛ/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

bassinet m (plural bassinets)

1. bassinet (all senses)
2. Diminutive of bassin, small bowl, basin, or pond

Derived terms

• cracher au bassinet

Further reading

• “bassinet”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.