badger

¹bad·ger

noun \ˈba-jər\

Definition of BADGER

1

a : any of various burrowing mammals (especially Taxidea taxus and Meles meles) of the weasel family that are widely distributed in the northern hemisphere

b : the pelt or fur of a badger

2

capitalized : a native or resident of Wisconsin —used as a nickname

Origin of BADGER

probably from badge; from the white mark on its forehead

First Known Use: 1523

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

Rhymes with BADGER

cadger

²badger

transitive verb

Definition of BADGER

: to harass or annoy persistently

Examples of BADGER

1. She finally badgered me into cutting my hair.

Origin of BADGER

from the sport of baiting badgers

First Known Use: 1794

Rhymes with BADGER

cadger

badger

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of eight species of stout-bodied carnivores (family Mustelidae) that possess an anal scent gland, powerful jaws, and large, heavy claws on their forefeet. Most species are brown, black, or gray, with markings on the face or body, and are found in South Asia. Badgers dig to find food and to construct burrows and escape routes. The American badger (Taxidea taxus), the only New World species, lives in the open, dry country of western North America. Badgers feed mostly on small animals, especially rodents. Species may be 9–12 in. (23–30 cm) high and 13–32 in. (33–81 cm) long, excluding the 2- to 10-in. (5– to 23-cm) tail, and may weigh 2–48 lbs (1–22 kg). Badgers can be savage fighters.