Bartholomew babies

Noun

Bartholomew baby (plural Bartholomew babies)

1. (historical) A wooden doll, generally without arms or joints, painted and dressed in current fashions.
   • For He could neither Bow, nor move his Hat to any man that saluted him: No, nor so much as turn from One side to the Other; but sate as if He had been Box’d up, like a Bartlemy-Baby.1667, Roger L'Estrange (translator), The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, London: H. Herringman, The Fifth Vision of the World, p. 162

   Synonyms:

   Bartlemy baby