Origin: 1250–1300; ME bacheler < OF < VL *baccalār(is) farm hand; akin to LL baccalāria piece of land, orig. pl. of *baccalārium dairy farm, equiv. to *baccālis of cows (bacca, var. of L vacca cow + -ālis-al1) + -ārium place
A person who has completed the undergraduate curriculum of a college or university and holds a bachelor's degree.
A male animal that does not mate during the breeding season, especially a young male fur seal kept from the breeding territory by older males.
A young knight in the service of another knight in feudal times.
[Middle English bacheler, squire, youth, bachelor, from Old French, from Medieval Latin baccalārius, tenant farmer, perhaps of Celtic origin.] bach'e·lor·dom, bach'e·lor·hood', bach'e·lor·ship' n.