bachelor

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 ]