[baj-er] 
| 1. | any of various burrowing, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, as Taxidea taxus, of North America, and Meles meles, of Europe and Asia. |
| 2. | the fur of this mammal. |
| 3. | Australian.
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| 4. | (initial capital letter ) a native or inhabitant of Wisconsin (the Badger State) (used as a nickname). |
| 5. | a swablike device for cleaning excess mortar from the interiors of newly laid tile drains. |
| 6. | to harass or urge persistently; pester; nag: I had to badger him into coming with us. |
| badg·er (bāj'ər) n.
To harass or pester persistently. See Synonyms at harass. [Perhaps from badge.] Word History: Our name for the Eurasian species of this mammal, which is noted for defending its burrow like a knight of old, may come from the badger's knightly emblem. The creature's white head with a broad black stripe on each side of the snout may have brought to mind a badge, hence badger. Good evidence supporting this theory is that an earlier name for the animal was bauson, which comes from the Old French word baucenc, usually referring to a white patch on a horse and also meaning "badger." Bauson is first recorded by 1375, badger in 1523. |