The word has appeared in English since 1580. The word "bib" is probably derived from the verb bibben "to drink" in Latin "bibere" because it was worn while drinking or because it "soaked up" spills.
Now, a bib is used to protect clothing from spilled food. This garment is worn from the neck to the chest. Especially infants, or young children, use bibs because they have more trouble eating. In addition, when babies are drooling because they are teething, baby bibs can be convenient too. Furthermore, bibs are also worn when eating certain "messy" meals, such as spaghetti, chicken wings, or burgers.