DCHP-2

dummy DCHP-2 (June 2016)

• n.

  an imitation nipple used to soothe babies and toddlers; a soother, pacifier.

  Type: 2. Preservation — Dummy is a shortening of the compound noun dummy teat (see OED-3, s.v. "dummy" (n.5f) and the 1904 quotation), where dummy means "imitation" or "fake". Dummy is a preservation in Canadian English from British English. In COD-2, the term is marked as both Canadian and British, while W-3 marks it as "chiefly British". Internet data show that although the term is also used in the US, it is most prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1). Soother and pacifier are the more common variants elsewhere (see Charts 2 & 3). Dummy can be considered a preservation in North American English.
  See also COD-2, s.v. "dummy" (5), which is marked "Cdn & Brit.".

  See also: soother  

  • 1904  [A neighbor of mine had a child just over two months old. It had a very bad cough and the parents did not know what to give it. I suggested that if they would get a bottle of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy and put some upon the dummy teat the baby was sucking it would no doubt cure the child.] 
  • 1909  Dr. Dan McKenzie reports some interesting observations made with a view of determining if possible the relation of artificial feeding and the use of the rubber "dummy" or "comfort" in infants to the development of adenoids and high vaulted palates. 
  • 1926  With the franc near twenty-nine to the dollar, the position of the Government uncertain, and the Budget waiting to be balanced, the Chamber of Deputies spent this morning solemnly discussing the suppression of the manufacture of babies' comforters. The little rubber dummies which have been the comfort of many an infant [...] were condemned by 370 votes to 153, on the ground they are insanitary and spread disease. 
  • 1955  "Baby is such a sweet darling and seldom wakes up. If he does, just dip the rubber dummy in a little sugar, and he'll be right off to sleep before you know it." [...] Dipping the dummy into the saucer he placed it well into the baby's mouth. The baby sucked it for a moment then spat it out and yelled louder than ever. 
  • 1976  If a child tends to suck his thumb, [Dr. Maret Truuvert] advises getting a dummy or soother. But never dip it in any sweetener to make the baby keep it in the mouth longer. 
  • 1988  In the old days, many parents tried to keep thumbs and dummies off-limits, for fear the child would still be sucking away in high school. 
  • 1992  Out of the mouths of babes, pacifiers, soothers or dummies are fashion's latest fad. 
  • 2000  Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breast feeding infants. 
  • 2000  Jodie, on the other hand is a "bright and alert baby, sparkling and sucking on her dummy [soother]", the Appeal Court heard. 
  • 2014  There are many things I have felt guilty about since my daughter was born - snapping at her because I find it tricky to wipe vomit off her face while simultaneously trying to put a wash on and find her dummy to calm her down [...]