badgerlyadj.
/ˈbadʒəli/, U.S. /ˈbædʒərli/ rare.
Resembling or characteristic of a badger; badger-like.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > old (of beings, etc.)
oldeOE
winteredeOE
oldlyOE
over-oldOE
eldernc1175
at-oldc1200
stricken on, in age, in eldec1380
oldlya1382
(well, far, etc.) stepped in age, in or into yearsc1386
ancientc1400
aged1420
well-agedc1450
ripec1480
passing oldc1485
(well) shot in years1530
old aged1535
agey1547
Ogygian1567
strucken1576
oldish1580
stricken in yearsa1586
declined1591
far1591
struck1597
Nestorian1605
overripe1605
elderly1611
eld1619
antiquated1631
enaged1631
thorough-old1639
emerita1643
grandevous1647
magnaevous1727
badgerly1753
(as) old as the hills1819
olden days1823
crusted1833
long in the tooth1841
oldened1854
mature1867
over the hill1950
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison V. xliii. 273 When I see those badgerly virgins fond of a parrot, a squirrel, a monkey.
1887 Amer. Missionary Apr. 122 You would not know him from a boy if he did not sometimes get down on all fours and rub his stocking through at the knees; but we hope he will grow out of this badgerly habit in time.
2003 G. Gilman in K. Link Trampoline 81 A traveller, he thought, a tinker or a tain by kindred: breeched and beardless, swart and badgerly of arms. And grey as any brock.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1753