Babysitter
/ˈbeɪ.biˌsɪt.ər/noun
A person who takes care of children temporarily.
Did you know?The term 'babysitter' emerged in the 1930s, but before then, child care was often a community affair steeped in folklore and superstitions about children’s safety.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
baba
“An infant or child.”
Old English
OE
sittan
“To sit.”
14th Century
Middle English
sitter
“One who sits, often implying a caretaker.”
20th Century
English
babysitter
“A person who temporarily cares for children, derived from 'baby' and 'sitter'.”