badge

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A small piece of metal, plastic, or cloth worn to show who you are, your rank, or that you belong to a group.

   The security guard showed his badge before entering.

2. 2
   noun

   Something seen as a sign of a quality, status, or achievement.

   For him, the scar was a badge of honour.

3. 3
   noun

   An icon or symbol given to a user online for reaching some achievement.

   You earn a new badge after completing ten lessons.

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”).

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