bachelor

Etymology

From Middle English bacheler, from Anglo-Norman and Old French bacheler (modern French bachelier), from Medieval Latin baccalārius, baccalāris (compare Tuscan baccalare (“squire”)).

noun

1. A person, especially a man, who is socially regarded as able to marry, but has not yet.
   I shall die a bachelor. 1933, S. N. Behrman, Queen Christina
2. The first or lowest academical degree conferred by universities and colleges; a bachelor's degree.
3. Someone who has achieved a bachelor's degree.
4. (Canada) A bachelor apartment.
5. (obsolete) An unmarried woman.
   And keep you not alone without a husband A bachelor still, by keeping of your portion
6. (obsolete) A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field.
7. (obsolete) Among London tradesmen, a junior member not yet admitted to wear the livery.
8. A kind of bass, an edible freshwater fish (Pomoxis annularis) of the southern United States.