bambino

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A child; a baby.
2. n. A representation of the infant Jesus.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A child or baby; specifically, a figure of the Child Jesus. It is commonly represented as in the manger at Bethlehem, and is exposed in many Roman Catholic churches throughout the world from Christmas to Epiphany, the effect being often heightened by figures of angels, of the shepherds, of the Magi, etc. The whole together is commonly called in English the crib. As a subject of popular devotion, it owes its origin to St. Francis of Assisi in the early part of the thirteenth century. The famous bambino in the church of Ara Cœli at Rome is of olivewood, and was made in Palestine by a Franciscan lay brother some time before the seventeenth century; it is in repute for miraculous healing, and has been richly decorated by the faithful. In the fine arts this subject has been often treated, notably in the glazed terra-cotta reliefs of Luca della Robbia.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A child or baby; esp., a representation in art of the infant Christ wrapped in swaddling clothes.
2. n. George Herman Ruth ("Babe" Ruth), the baseball player; -- usu. in the form “the bambino”.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a young child