definitions

Badger State

noun

Wisconsin (used as a nickname).

Definition for badger state (2 of 2)

badger

[ baj-er ]
/ ˈbædʒ ər /

noun

any of various burrowing, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, as Taxidea taxus, of North America, and Meles meles, of Europe and Asia.
the fur of this mammal.
Australian.
  1. a wombat.
  2. bandicoot(def 2).
(initial capital letter) a native or inhabitant of Wisconsin (the Badger State) (used as a nickname).
a swablike device for cleaning excess mortar from the interiors of newly laid tile drains.

verb (used with object)

to harass or urge persistently; pester; nag: I had to badger him into coming with us.

Origin of badger

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

SYNONYMS FOR badger

6 vex, bedevil, plague, worry, disturb, bait.

Related forms

un·badg·ered, adjectiveun·badg·er·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for badger state

badger

/ (ˈbædʒə) /

noun

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 headCompare ferret badger, hog badger
honey badger another name for ratel

verb

(tr) to pester or harass

Word Origin for badger

C16: variant of badgeard, probably from badge (from the white mark on its forehead) + -ard
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012