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. ] 1. A man of any age who has not been married. [ 1913 Webster ]

As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An unmarried woman. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field; often, a young knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear the livery; a junior member. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish (Pomoxys annularis) of the southern United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a knight of the lowest order; he was permitted to display only a pennon.
Syn. -- knight bachelor, bachelor [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The state of bachelorhood; the whole body of bachelors. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or condition of being a bachelor; bachelorship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Bachelorhood; also, a manner or peculiarity belonging to bachelors. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) A plant with flowers shaped like buttons; especially, several species of Ranunculus, and the cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) and globe amaranth (Gomphrena). [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Bachelor's buttons, a name given to several flowers “from their similitude to the jagged cloathe buttons, anciently worne in this kingdom, ” according to Johnson's Gerarde, p. 472 (1633); but by other writers ascribed to “a habit of country fellows to carry them in their pockets to divine their success with their sweethearts.” Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being a bachelor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. bachelerie. ] The body of young aspirants for knighthood. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]