English word babe comes from Proto-Indo-European *bʰāt-, and later Proto-Germanic *bō- (A stem meaning father, brother, close male relation.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *bʰāt- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | father, (elder) brother, father, elder brother, brother |
| *bō- | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | A stem meaning father, brother, close male relation. |
| *baba | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | |
| babe | Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) | |
| babe | English (en) | (literary, or, poetic) A baby or infant; a very young human or animal.. (slang) An attractive person, especially a young woman.. Darling (term of endearment). |