Bāch'e-lor, n.

n. [O. Fr. bacheler, bachelier, bachellier, bachiler, young man; N. Fr. bachelier, Pr. bachallier, bacalar, Sp. bachiller, Pg. bacharel, It. baccalare, baccalauro, bacelliere; L. Lat. 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. The orig. sense of the word is little, small, young, from W. bach, Ir. beag, beg; from which root is also derived the O. Fr. bacele, bacelle, bachele, bacelate, bachelette, young girl. Cf. W. baches, a pretty little woman, and vassal, from W. gwas, boy, young man, page, servant, gwasawl, serving.] 1. A man of any age who has not been married. As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound. Irving.

2. A person who has taken the first degree in the liberal arts, at a college or university; as, bachelor of arts, bachelor of laws, &c.
3. A knight of the lowest order, or, more correctly, a young knight, styled a knight bachelor.
4. In the livery companies of London, a person not yet admitted to the livery.
5. A young woman unmarried. [Obs.]

*He would keep you A bachelor still, . . . And keep you not alone without a husband, But in a sickness.* B. Jonson.