intj. and verb. (colloquial).—An exclamation of contempt or disgust: Fr. bah!
[1600. DEKKER, The Gentle Craft [Works, I. 40]. Away she flung … nor said bih nor BAH.]
1817. BYRON, Beppo, xxxii. Dreading the deep damnation of his ‘BAH.’
1838. DICKENS, The Old Curiosity Shop (C.D. ed.), 33. Mr. Richard … spends all his money on his friends and is BAH!’D for his pains.
1848. C. KINGSLEY, The Saint’s Tragedy, III. 3. BAH! priest! What can this Marpurg-madness do for me?
d. 1859. DE QUINCEY, Works (Century). Twenty-five years ago the vile ejaculation BAH! was utterly unknown to the British public.
