Dictionary-Definition.com :: Bachelor definition

Definition of 'bachelor'

noun

A man who has never been married [syn: bachelor, unmarried man]

noun

A knight of the lowest order; could display only a pennon [syn: knight bachelor, bachelor-at-arms, bachelor]

verb

Lead a bachelor's existence [syn: bachelor, bach]

From: GCIDE

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.]
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]

From: GCIDE

Holluschickie \Hol"lus*chick`ie\, n. sing. & pl. [Prob. of Russ. goluishka bare of possessions, offspring, etc., fr. golui[i^] naked.] (Zool.) A young male fur seal, esp. one from three to six years old; -- called also bachelor, because prevented from breeding by the older full-grown males.
Note: The holluschickie are the seals that may legally be killed for their skins.
But he'll lie down on the killing grounds where the holluschickie go. --Kipling. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]