n. Formerly, a person in the first or probationary stage of knighthood; a knight not powerful enough to display his banner in the field, and who therefore followed the banner of another; a knight of low rank. See knight bachelor, under knight.n. In universities and colleges: Before the fifteenth century, a young man in apprenticeship for the degree of master in one of the higher faculties, that is, of theology, law, or medicine. In modern use, a person who has taken the first degree (baccalaureate) in the liberal arts and sciences, or in divinity, law, medicine, etc., at a college or university: as, a bachelor of arts; a bachelor of science. See baccalaureate.n. A man of any age who has not been married.n. A woman who has not been married.n. In London livery companies, a person not yet admitted to the livery. A local name in the United States of a fish, Pomoxis annularis, of the Mississippi valley; a crappie.n. Sometimes incorrectly spelled batchelor.n. One of the young male furseals which are forced, through fear of the adult bulls, to herd by themselves at a distance from the breeding-grounds.