The Collaborative International Dictionary
Bachelor \Bach"e*lor\ (b[a^]ch"[-e]*l[~e]r), n. [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, n.]
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A man of any age who has not been married.
As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound.
--W. Irving. An unmarried woman. [Obs.]
--B. Jonson.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.
A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field; often, a young knight.
In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear the livery; a junior member. [Obs.]
(Zo["o]l.) A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish ( Pomoxys annularis) of the southern United States.