BACHELOR


Meaning of BACHELOR in English

ˈbach(ə)lə(r) noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English bacheler, from Old French, young man, squire, from Medieval Latin baccalarius dependent farmer, tenant, young clerk, advanced student, of Celtic origin; akin to Irish Gaelic bachlach peasant, shepherd, from Old Irish bachall staff, from Latin baculus, baculum — more at bacterium

1.

a. : a usually young knight who was entitled to display his own pennon but who followed the banner of another : knight bachelor

b. : an apprentice or novice knight

2. : a person who has received what is usually the first or lowest degree conferred by a college or university or by some professional schools

bachelor of letters

bachelor of divinity

bachelor of laws

3.

a. : an unmarried person of marriageable age ; especially : a man of marriageable age

remained a bachelor for seven years after his wife's death

a bachelor girl

b. : a male animal ; specifically : a young male fur seal when without a mate during breeding time

4. : white crappie

• bach·e·lor·dom -dəm noun -s

• bach·e·lor·hood -ˌhu̇d noun -s

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.