*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of badge

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 (“rin

2 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Unnumbered source etymology · variant 1/2

Original entry ↗
verb

To mark or distinguish with a badge. · To show a badge to. · To enter a restricted area by showing one’s badge.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Root classification mention*bʰewgʰ-ine-pro
  • Inherited-form mentionbadgeenm
  • Derivation mentionbāgosx
  • Derivation mention*baugazgem-pro · ring, bracelet, armband
  • Cognate mentionbēagang · ring, bracelet, collar, crown
  • Cognate mentionbagiesco
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
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        "3": "*bʰewgʰ-"
      },
      "expansion": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "badge"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English badge"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "xno",
        "3": "bage"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglo-Norman bage"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la-med",
        "3": "bagea"
      },
      "expansion": "Medieval Latin bagea"
    },
    {
      "name": "unc",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "uncertain"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la-med",
        "3": "baga",
        "t": "ring"
      },
      "expansion": "Medieval Latin baga (“ring”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "osx",
        "3": "bāg"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Saxon bāg"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*baugaz",
        "t": "ring, bracelet, armband"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *baugaz (“ring, bracelet, armband”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "ang",
        "2": "bēag",
        "t": "ring, bracelet, collar, crown"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēag (“ring, bracelet, collar, crown”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "sco",
        "2": "bagie"
      },
      "expansion": "Scots bagie"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "badge",
      "badge#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "bagge",
      "bagge#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "bage",
      "bage#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "bagy",
      "bagy#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "bage",
      "bage#Old_French"
    ],
    [
      "bagea",
      "bagea#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "bagia",
      "bagia#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "baga",
      "baga#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "bāg",
      "bag#Old_Saxon"
    ],
    [
      "bōg",
      "bog#Old_Saxon"
    ],
    [
      "*baugaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/baugaz"
    ],
    [
      "bēag",
      "beag#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "bagie",
      "bagie#Scots"
    ],
    [
      "badgie",
      "badgie#Scots"
    ],
    [
      "bawgy",
      "bawgy#Scots"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "verb",
      "glosses": [
        "To mark or distinguish with a badge.",
        "To show a badge to.",
        "To enter a restricted area by showing one’s badge."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive",
        "ambitransitive"
      ],
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}

Unnumbered source etymology · variant 2/2

Original entry ↗
noun

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. · A small nameplate, identifying the wearer, and often giving additional information. · A card, sometimes with a barcode or magnetic strip, granting access to a certain area. · Something characteristic; a mark; a token.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Root classification mention*bʰewgʰ-ine-pro
  • Inherited-form mentionbadgeenm
  • Derivation mentionbāgosx
  • Derivation mention*baugazgem-pro · ring, bracelet, armband
  • Cognate mentionbēagang · ring, bracelet, collar, crown
  • Cognate mentionbagiesco

This page abbreviates 6 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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        "3": "*bʰewgʰ-"
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    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "badge"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English badge"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "xno",
        "3": "bage"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglo-Norman bage"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la-med",
        "3": "bagea"
      },
      "expansion": "Medieval Latin bagea"
    },
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      "name": "unc",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "uncertain"
    },
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      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la-med",
        "3": "baga",
        "t": "ring"
      },
      "expansion": "Medieval Latin baga (“ring”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "osx",
        "3": "bāg"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Saxon bāg"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*baugaz",
        "t": "ring, bracelet, armband"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *baugaz (“ring, bracelet, armband”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "ang",
        "2": "bēag",
        "t": "ring, bracelet, collar, crown"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English bēag (“ring, bracelet, collar, crown”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "sco",
        "2": "bagie"
      },
      "expansion": "Scots bagie"
    }
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      "badge",
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      "bagge#Middle_English"
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      "bage",
      "bage#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "bagy",
      "bagy#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "bage",
      "bage#Old_French"
    ],
    [
      "bagea",
      "bagea#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "bagia",
      "bagia#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "baga",
      "baga#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "bāg",
      "bag#Old_Saxon"
    ],
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      "bōg",
      "bog#Old_Saxon"
    ],
    [
      "*baugaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/baugaz"
    ],
    [
      "bēag",
      "beag#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "bagie",
      "bagie#Scots"
    ],
    [
      "badgie",
      "badgie#Scots"
    ],
    [
      "bawgy",
      "bawgy#Scots"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "Gulf Arabic",
      "lang_code": "afb",
      "word": "باجة",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "bāja"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "lang_code": "ja",
      "word": "バッジ",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "bajji"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Korean",
      "lang_code": "ko",
      "word": "배지",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "baeji"
    }
  ],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "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.",
        "A small nameplate, identifying the wearer, and often giving additional information.",
        "A card, sometimes with a barcode or magnetic strip, granting access to a certain area.",
        "Something characteristic; a mark; a token."
      ],
      "tags": [],
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    "lexicalSenses": 6,
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  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for badge →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-YmFkZ2U