Barbie

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• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)bi

Barbara +‎ -ie

Barbie (plural Barbies)

1. A diminutive of the female given name Barbara.

Named for Barbara Handler-Segal, daughter of Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler, in 1959.

Barbie (plural Barbies)

1. A tall, slender female fashion doll.
   • 1964, Young Children, National Association for the Education of Young Children, volume 55, page 10:

     They discourage their young children from engaging in rough-and-tumble play. One mother said, “I like Hai-Mei quiet. I like her playing Barbies, writing, and singing.”

   • 1968, Paul Krassner (editor), The Realist, Realist Association, volumes 84-93, page 68:

     Everything short of the toe-to-toe Truth and Love that comes from real confrontation of individual consciousness is just playing with Barbie dolls.

   • 1976, Across the Board, The Conference Board, volumes 13-14, page 20:

     Sarah, who is ten, says she doesn’t play with Barbies anymore, although she takes a certain scientific interest […] .

   • 2005, Linda Hoffman Kimball, Apple Pies & Promises, Cedar Fort, →ISBN, page 51:

     Many of my feminist friends hate Barbie because they feel that she sends a terrible message to girls […]

2. (by extension, informal, derogatory) A beautiful but stupid or shallow young woman.

• Barbiesque

• Ken doll

• Rabbie

After the fashion doll Barbie.

Barbie

1. a female given name

From French Barbier.

Barbie

1. A surname​.

   Klaus Barbie ― Klaus Barbie

• Barbie in Duden online