Noun
(plural baccalaureats)
- A bachelor degree at university.
- An examination and qualification awarded in many countries, designed to enable people to go on to higher education; the International Baccalaureat.
Origin
From French baccalauréat or its source, mediaeval Latin baccalaureatus, from baccalaureus, an alteration of baccalarius ‘young man aspiring to knighthood’ to resemble bacca lauri ‘laurel berry’ (the ancient symbol of victory). Compare bachelor.
