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Webster 1913 Edition

Bachelor

Bach′e-lor

(băch′ē̍-lẽr)
,
Noun.
[OF.
bacheler
young man, F.
bachelier
(cf. Pr.
bacalar
, Sp.
bachiller
, Pg.
bacharel
, It.
baccalare
), LL.
baccalarius
the tenant of a kind of farm called
baccalaria
, a soldier not old or rich enough to lead his retainers into battle with a banner, a person of an inferior academical degree aspiring to a doctorate. In the latter sense, it was afterward changed to baccalaureus. See
Baccalaureate
,
Noun.
]
1.
A man of any age who has not been married.
As merry and mellow an old
bachelor
as ever followed a hound.
W. Irving.
2.
An unmarried woman.
[Obs.]
B. Jonson.
3.
A person who has taken the first or lowest degree in the liberal arts, or in some branch of science, at a college or university;
as, a
bachelor
of arts
.
4.
A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field; often, a young knight.
5.
In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear the livery; a junior member.
[Obs.]
6.
(Zool.)
A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish (
Pomoxys annularis
) of the southern United States.

Webster 1828 Edition

Bachelor

BACH'ELOR

, n.[L.baculus, a stick, that is, a shoot.]
1.
A young man who has not been married.
2.
A man of any age, who has not been married; often with the word old.
3.
A person who has taken the first degree in the liberal arts and sciences, at a college or university. This degree or honor is called the baccalaureate. This title is given also to such as take the first degree in divinity, law or physic, in certain European universities.
4.
A knight of the lowest order, or more correctly, a young knight, styled, a knight bachelor. The Germans anciently constituted their young men knights or soldiers, by presenting to them a shield and a lance, in a great council. This ceremony answered to that of the toga virilis of the Romans. In the livery companies of London, those persons not yet admitted to the livery are called bachelors.

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