When did English speakers start using "baby" as a form of endearment?

“Chou” means “cabbage.” Affectionate diminutives can be almost anything. My first husband called me “petunia pea pod.” We split after 9 years.

Here’s the Wikipedia article on the history of english Terms of Endearment.

Italians say “Tesoro,” which means “treasure.”

And here is a long list of french love terms, including doe, cat, wolf, duck. pig, hen, flea.

edit: “Chou” means pastry.

Here is a link to one site that covers the etymology of the word “baby”.

Sorry @gailcalled but it is mon petit chou because chou which means cabbage is a masculine noun regardless of the person to whom it is said.

Only in recent years have my beloved and I used baby as a term of endearment between us.

I use many different such terms to keep my expression of adoration fresh.

Hey, Doc. It was @aprilsimnel who wrote “ma petite chou” et pas moi.

“Chou” means both “cabbage” and “pastry,” as in “chou à la crème.”

Personally, I’d like to be called “ma puce,” once before it’s too late.

It’s been a while since I’ve spoken any French, @Dr_Lawrence. Whoops.

Thanks for the link, @Pied_Pfeffer. 1839! And possibly earlier!

@gailcalled So petunia pea pod is not a great term of endearment.

I like babes, and luv. I know @gail likes those especially. ~

Somehow I must force myself to think of “shawty” as just as legitimate as “baby”, but it grates against my ears when I hear it.

Then again, it’s just as valid (and ridiculous) as “muffin” and “cupcake”

@zenele: Try “mon sucre d’orge,” “ma minette,” or “ma caille,” and I will be le mastic in your hands.

I love mastic – we have mastic “Must” now in mango flavour. I used to like chiclets and dentyne – do you still have those?

I have no idea, baby.