BADGER


Meaning of BADGER in English

I. ˈba-jər noun

Etymology: probably from badge; from the white mark on its forehead

Date: 1523

1.

a. : any of various burrowing mammals (especially Taxidea taxus and Meles meles ) of the weasel family that are widely distributed in the northern hemisphere

b. : the pelt or fur of a badger

2. capitalized : a native or resident of Wisconsin — used as a nickname

II. transitive verb

Etymology: from the sport of baiting badgers

Date: 1794

: to harass or annoy persistently

Synonyms: see bait

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.