badge

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”).

noun

1. 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.
   the badge of a society; the badge of a policeman
2. A small nameplate, identifying the wearer, and often giving additional information.
3. A card, sometimes with a barcode or magnetic strip, granting access to a certain area.
4. Something characteristic; a mark; a token.
   Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge. 1588-93, William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus, act I, scene 2
5. (obsolete, thieves' cant) A brand on the hand of a thief, etc.
   He has got his badge, and piked: He was burned in the hand, and is at liberty.
6. (nautical) A carved ornament on the stern of a vessel, containing a window or the representation of one.
7. (heraldry) 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.
8. (graphical user interface) A small overlay on an icon that shows additional information about that item, such as the number of new alerts or messages.
9. (Internet, video games) An icon or emblem awarded to a user for some achievement.
   When you have checked in to the site from ten different cities, you unlock the Traveller badge.
10. (slang) A police officer.
    1995, Robert DeNiro (actor), Casino:
    That's why every badge back home wanted to nail him.

verb

1. (transitive) To mark or distinguish with a badge.
   The television was badged as 'GE', but wasn't made by them.
2. (transitive) To show a badge to.
   He calmed down a lot when the policeman badged him.
3. (transitive, intransitive) To enter a restricted area by showing one's badge.
   Worden and James walk … to the … Courthouse …, where they badge their way past sheriff's deputies and take the elevator to the third floor. 1981, David Simon, Homicide, page 118
   And Patterson didn't hear that Jack Egger, the studio's director of security, said he'd seen John Orr badge his way through the pedestrian gate sometime before 4:00 pm, when the fire was still raging, … 2003, Joseph Wambaugh, Fire Lover, page 146
   Our regional commissioner, his assistant commissioner and our district director, along with their wives, were hoofing it to the rotunda. Apparently they didn't try and badge their way through. 2004, Sergei Hoteko, On The Fringe Of History, page 135
   Aaron badged into the data center and escorted Geoff inside the large room with its many blinking green lights. 2006, David Pollino, Bill Pennington, Tony Bradley, Himanshu Dwivedi, Hacker's challenge 3, page 338