bibelot
noun
bi·be·lot ˈbē-bə-ˌlō 
plural bibelots ˈbē-bə-ˌlō(z)
: a small household ornament or decorative object : trinket
Did you know?
Can you think of a six-letter synonym of bibelot that starts with the letter "g"? No? How about an eight-letter one? Crossword puzzle whizzes might guess that the words we are thinking of are gewgaw and gimcrack. Like these, bibelot, which English speakers borrowed from French, has uses beyond wordplay. In addition to its general use as a synonym of trinket, it can refer specifically to a miniature book of elegant design (such as those made by Tiffany and Faberge). It also appears regularly in the names of things as diverse as restaurants and show dogs.
Synonyms
- bauble
- curio
- curiosity
- doodad
- gaud
- gewgaw
- geegaw
- gimcrack
- kickshaw
- knickknack
- nicknack
- novelty
- ornamental
- tchotchke
- trinket
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
practically every horizontal surface in the Victorian parlor was blanketed with fussy little bibelots
Recent Examples on the Web The painting then remained in the artist’s possession and out of public sight until it was bought, in 1927, as a chic bibelot for a swanky members-only social club in London. 
Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 9 May 2022 Bruno Magli’s luxe nappa leather bibelot upgrades the standard-issue, white plastic AirPods case. Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 16 Nov. 2021 Well, nobody ever brought in any bibelot on Dominique. William Middleton, Town & Country, 7 Mar. 2018 Inside there is a small desk with a computer; a bookshelf is adorned with bibelots and certificates of appreciation with her name in fancy script. New York Times, 29 May 2018 Oh, if only Trump had a crystal ball among those Bedminster bibelots! Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2017
Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 9 May 2022 Bruno Magli’s luxe nappa leather bibelot upgrades the standard-issue, white plastic AirPods case. Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 16 Nov. 2021 Well, nobody ever brought in any bibelot on Dominique. William Middleton, Town & Country, 7 Mar. 2018 Inside there is a small desk with a computer; a bookshelf is adorned with bibelots and certificates of appreciation with her name in fancy script. New York Times, 29 May 2018 Oh, if only Trump had a crystal ball among those Bedminster bibelots! Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2017 Word History
Etymology
French
First Known Use
1873, in the meaning defined above
bibelot
noun
as in ornamental
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest practically every horizontal surface in the Victorian parlor was blanketed with fussy little bibelots Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ornamental
- ornament
- souvenir
- bauble
- trinket
- gaud
- knickknack
- gimcrack
- gewgaw
- kickshaw
- tchotchke
- collectible
- novelty
- curio
- bijouterie
- doodad
- geegaw
- bagatelle
- nicknack
- trinketry
- trifle
- gimcrackery
- memento
- keepsake
- collectable
- trumpery
- objet
- bric-a-brac
- curiosity
- virtu
- figurine
- vertu
- objet d'art
- conversation piece
- collector's item