badger

/ˈba-jər/

probably reduction of bageard, badgerde, from + -ard

noun

  1. any of various burrowing mammals (especially Taxidea taxus and Meles meles) of the weasel family that are widely distributed in the northern hemisphere

  2. the pelt or fur of a badger

  3. a native or resident of Wisconsin —used as a nickname

verb

  1. to harass or annoy persistently

… the mill foreman so taunted the workers, so badgered them and told them that they dared not quit …

bait badger heckle hector chivy hound mean to harass by efforts to break down. bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim. badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.