badge
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A term used for one burned in the hand. He has got his badge, and piked; he was burned in the hand, and is at liberty. Cant.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “badge” mean?
A term used for one burned in the hand. He has got his badge, and piked; he was burned in the hand, and is at liberty. Cant.
Is “badge” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.