badge
Meanings
noun
- A distinctive mark, token, sign, emblem or cognizance, worn on one’s clothing, as an insignia of some rank, or of the membership of an organization.
- A small nameplate, identifying the wearer, and often giving additional information.
- A card, sometimes with a barcode or magnetic strip, granting access to a certain area.
- Something characteristic; a mark; a token.
- A brand on the hand of a thief, etc.
- A carved ornament on the stern of a vessel, containing a window or the representation of one.
- A distinctive mark worn by servants, retainers, and followers of royalty or nobility, who, being beneath the rank of gentlemen, have no right to armorial bearings.
- A small overlay on an icon that shows additional information about that item, such as the number of new alerts or messages.
- An icon or emblem awarded to a user for some achievement.
- A police officer.
verb
- To mark or distinguish with a badge.
- To show a badge to.
- To enter a restricted area by showing one’s badge.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
From Middle English badge, bagge, bage, bagy, from Anglo-Norman bage or Medieval Latin bagea, bagia (“sign, emblem”), of uncertain origin. Possibly derived from Medieval Latin baga (“ring”), from Old Saxon bāg, bōg (“ring, ornament”), from Proto-Germanic *baugaz (“ring, bracelet, armband”); or possibly the Anglo-Norman word is derived from an earlier, unattested English word (compare Old English bēag (“ring, bracelet, collar, crown”). Cognate with Scots bagie, badgie, bawgy (“badge”).
Synonyms
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Derived words
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