Forms: 7 bajon, 7–9 bajan, 9 bejaune, bejeant, bejan, bigent. [a. F. béjaune novice, freshman (f. bec jaune ‘yellow beak,’ in allusion to young birds. See Littré, s.v. Bec, Béjaune); cf. Ger. gelbschnabel.] A freshman at the Scotch universities, where the term was adopted from the University of Paris. (Now obsolete at Edinburgh.) Also attrib.
[1611. Cotgr., Bejaune, a novice … or yong beginner in, a Trade, or Art. Payer son bejaune, to pay his welcome; a fee exacted by schollers, of such as are newly admitted into their societie.]
1642. Baillie, Lett., 10 May, 794. There will be near 60 Bajons already.
c. 1670. T. Craufurd, Hist. Univ. Edin., 63 (Jam.). No Bajans convened all that year.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. III. x. (1743), 441. The first year the students [at Edinburgh] who are called Bajans, are taught only Greek.
1812. W. Tennant, Anster Fair, ii. Up from their mouldy books … had sprung Bigent and Magistrand to try the game.
1864. Burton, Scot. Abr., I. v. 270.
1868. G. Macdonald, R. Falconer, II. 65. His grandmother yielded, and Robert was straightway a Bejan or Yellow-beak.
1884. Sir A. Grant, Story Univ. Edin., I. iii. 144.
