What is the origin of the word badger?

The Word "badger" originates from the 16th-century English term "badge," which referred to the animal's distinctive white markings on its face, resembling a badge. The term likely evolved from the Old French Word "bajoc," a derivative of "bajocque," meaning "to dig," reflecting the animal's burrowing behavior. Over time, it came to refer specifically to the European badger (Meles meles) and eventually the term was adopted in various languages to describe similar species.