BACHELOR, or BACHELOR, a man who still continues in the state of celibacy, or who was never married.
BACHELOR is a word of uncertain etymology, it not being known what was its original sense. Junius derives it from Bacchus. foolish; Menage, from Bas Chevalier, a knight of the lowest rank; Spelman, from Baculus, a staff; Cujas, from Buccella, an allowance of provision. The most probable derivation of it seems to be from Bucca Laurus, the berry of a laurel or bay; bachelors being young and of good hopes, like laurels in the berry. In Latin, Baccalaureus.