baba (2) — ODE

baba2 /ˈbɑːbɑː

, ˈbɑːbə

▸ noun Indian English

1 father (often as a proper name or as a familiar form of address):

‘Baba and I have squabbled.’.

▪ a respectful form of address for an older man:

‘Sit down, baba, you like tea?’.

▪ (often Baba) a holy man (often as a proper name or form of address):

Balyogi Baba was reputed to have been standing on one leg for eight years.

2 a child, especially a male one (often in names or as an affectionate form of address):

‘Remove the paper whenever you are ready, baba.’.

– ORIGIN from Urdu bābā.