Budge-Bear
/ˈbʌdʒˌbɛər/noun
An obsolete term for a university beadle or official wearing a gown trimmed with budge fur.
Did you know?At early universities, clothing could visibly encode rank, and a beadle’s fur-trimmed gown helped turn his outfit into his nickname.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Latin
Latin
bulga
“A leather sack or pouch; a possible ancestor of the material-related branch behind budge.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
bouge
“A leather bag or pouch, later associated with material or fur terminology.”
14th Century
Middle English
budge
“Lambskin or lamb fur, especially when used as a trim for official clothing.”
Old English
Old English
bera
“Bear, the animal-name element later appearing in English compounds.”
16th–17th Century
English
budge-bear
“A university beadle or similar official wearing a fur-trimmed gown.”
Modern English
English
budge-bear
“An obsolete historical term, chiefly encountered in dictionaries and early texts.”