badger

American  

[baj-er] / ˈbædʒ ər /

noun

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.

   1. a wombat.

   2. bandicoot.

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.

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verb (used with object)

badgers, present (3rd person singular) badgered, past participle, past badgering present participle

1. to harass or urge persistently; pester; nag.

   I had to badger him into coming with us.

   Synonyms:

   worry, plague, bedevil, vex, bait, disturb

badger British  

/ ˈbædʒə /

noun

1. any of various stocky omnivorous musteline mammals of the subfamily Melinae , such as Meles meles ( Eurasian badger ), occurring in Europe, Asia, and North America: order Carnivora (carnivores). They are typically large burrowing animals, with strong claws and a thick coat striped black and white on the head Compare ferret badger hog badger

2. another name for ratel

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verb

1. (tr) to pester or harass

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unbadgering
  adjective
• unbadgered
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has badgered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have badgered
  perfect
• have been badgering
  perfect progressive
• has been badgering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is badgering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• badgers
  singular 3rd person
• are badgering
  progressive
• am badgering
  progressive 1st person singular
• badgering
  participle

Past

• had badgered
  perfect
• badgered
  simple
• were badgering
  progressive plural
• had been badgering
  perfect progressive
• was badgering
  progressive singular
• badgered
  participle

Future

• will badger
  simple
• will have badgered
  perfect
• will have been badgering
  perfect progressive
• will be badgering
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of badger

1515–25; variant of badgeard, perhaps badge + -ard, in allusion to white mark or badge on head

Explanation

Badger is to bother. Persistently. On and on. Without stop. Relentlessly. Over and over. Endlessly. It comes from the name of that chipmunk-like animal that burrows into the ground. If you badger someone, you get under their skin. A badger is an animal that digs tunnels under ground to keep warm. To badger can also mean to persuade someone through constant annoying efforts. You might badger your mom to add another hour to your curfew or badger your friend to give you a turn with a video game he has been hogging.

Example Sentences

The basset-hound—Mirthful and dignified—A method of protecting hares—A suggestion—Formidable foes—“Fouling” the scent—A cry of distress—The home in the snow-drift—The renegade cat—An inoffensive life—A devastating storm 278-291 THE BADGER.

From Creatures of the Night A Book of Wild Life in Western Britain by Rees, Alfred Wellesley

B BADGER, THE,— Nature and habits of, 175.

From Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping and Trap Making by Gibson, William Hamilton

Collingwood was then made commander into the BADGER.

From The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson by Southey, Robert

His family were the property of Judge BADGER, who was afterwards made a member of Mr. Harrison's cabinet.

From The Narrative of Lunsford Lane, Formerly of Raleigh, N.C. by Lane, Lunsford

BADGER, long life and prosperity as a bachelor.

From Tea-Cup Reading and Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves, by a Highland Seer by

Related Words

• annoy
• bully
• goad
• harass
• heckle
• hound
• pester
• tease
• torment