Bear-leader

Bear-leader

A bear-leader was formerly a man who led bears about the country. In the Middle Ages and Tudor times these animals were chiefly used in the brutal sport of bear-baiting and were led from village to village. Performing bears were also common; their keepers were generally Frenchmen or Italians.

In Victorian times a bear-leader was a colloquialism for a man who escorted young men of rank or wealth on their travels, such as young gentlemen on the Grand Tour. The role of bear-leader blended elements of tutor, guardian, chaperon and companion. A late example in literature can be seen in the ambitious Oxford tutor hired to keep an increasingly alcoholic young man out of harm's way -- and out of the way -- in "Brideshead Revisited".

References

*1911


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  • Bear leader — Bear Bear (b[^a]r), n. [OE. bere, AS. bera; akin to D. beer, OHG. bero, pero, G. b[ a]r, Icel. & Sw. bj[ o]rn, and possibly to L. fera wild beast, Gr. fh r beast, Skr. bhalla bear.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any species of the genus {Ursus},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bear leader — noun Etymology: bear (I), from the way trained bears were led around on a chain by their masters : one that takes charge of a young man on cultural travels : a traveling tutor sent with a bear leader to the continent for years to be ripened… …   Useful english dictionary

  • bear leader — (formerly) a tutor traveling with a wealthy or aristocratic young man. Also, bear leader. [1740 50] * * * …   Universalium

  • Bear — (b[^a]r), n. [OE. bere, AS. bera; akin to D. beer, OHG. bero, pero, G. b[ a]r, Icel. & Sw. bj[ o]rn, and possibly to L. fera wild beast, Gr. fh r beast, Skr. bhalla bear.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any species of the genus {Ursus}, and of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bear baiting — Bear Bear (b[^a]r), n. [OE. bere, AS. bera; akin to D. beer, OHG. bero, pero, G. b[ a]r, Icel. & Sw. bj[ o]rn, and possibly to L. fera wild beast, Gr. fh r beast, Skr. bhalla bear.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any species of the genus {Ursus},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bear caterpillar — Bear Bear (b[^a]r), n. [OE. bere, AS. bera; akin to D. beer, OHG. bero, pero, G. b[ a]r, Icel. & Sw. bj[ o]rn, and possibly to L. fera wild beast, Gr. fh r beast, Skr. bhalla bear.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any species of the genus {Ursus},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bear garden — Bear Bear (b[^a]r), n. [OE. bere, AS. bera; akin to D. beer, OHG. bero, pero, G. b[ a]r, Icel. & Sw. bj[ o]rn, and possibly to L. fera wild beast, Gr. fh r beast, Skr. bhalla bear.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any species of the genus {Ursus},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bear-lead — bearˈ lead transitive verb To lead about, eg a performing bear, but also more gen to supervise, act as tutor to • • • Main Entry: ↑bear * * * bear lead «BAIR LEED», transitive verb, led « lehd», lead|ing. British. to lead or conduct as if by a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bear (disambiguation) — A bear is a large mammal in the family Ursidae of the order Carnivora.Bear may also refer to: * Bear (ship), a famous exploration ship * Bear (gay slang), a subculture of the gay community consisting primarily of large, hairy, and usually bearded …   Wikipedia

  • Bear Island (Norway) — Infobox Islands name = Bear Island image caption = Bear Island is located north of mainland Norway, in the south of the native name = Bjørnøya native name link = Norwegian language nickname = location = Barents Sea coordinates =… …   Wikipedia

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