/baj"euhr/ , n.
1. any of various burrowing, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, as Taxidea taxus, of North America, and Meles meles, of Europe and Asia.
2. the fur of this mammal.
3. Australian.
a. a wombat.
b. bandicoot (def. 2).
4. ( cap. ) a native or inhabitant of Wisconsin ( the Badger State) (used as a nickname).
5. a swablike device for cleaning excess mortar from the interiors of newly laid tile drains.
v.t.
6. to harass or urge persistently; pester; nag: I had to badger him into coming with us.
[ 1515-25; var. of badgeard, perh. BADGE + -ARD, in allusion to white mark or badge on head ]
Syn. 6. vex, bedevil, plague, worry, disturb, bait.