Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Badger?

\Badg"er\, n. [Of uncertain origin; perh. fr. an old verb badge to lay up provisions to sell again.] An itinerant licensed dealer in commodities used for food; a hawker; a huckster; -- formerly applied especially to one who bought grain in one place and sold it in another. [Now dialectic, Eng.]
\Badg"er\, n. [OE. bageard, prob. fr. badge + -ard, in reference to the white mark on its forehead. See {Badge},n.] 1. A carnivorous quadruped of the genus {Meles} or of an allied genus. It is a burrowing animal, with short, thick legs, and long claws on the fore feet. One species ({M. vulgaris}), called also {brock}, inhabits the north of Europe and Asia; another species ({Taxidea Americana or Labradorica}) inhabits the northern parts of North America. See {Teledu}. 2. A brush made of badgers' hair, used by artists. {Badger dog}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Dachshund}.
\Badg"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Badgered} (?);p. pr. & vb. n. {Badgering}.] [For sense 1, see 2d {Badger}; for 2, see 1st {Badger}.] 1. To tease or annoy, as a badger when baited; to worry or irritate persistently. 2. To beat down; to cheapen; to barter; to bargain.