Bigot

n. [Fr. bigot, a bigot or hypocrite, a name originally given to the Normans in France. “Rollo, the first duke of Normandy, was obliged to kiss the foot of King Charles in return for the Province of Neustria. When told by his companions what he must do, he exclaimed, ‘Ne se, Bigot’ (Not so, by God): the king and court mockingly called him Bigoth, whence the Normans are still called Bigoth.” Ducange, s. v. Bigothi: Vetus Chronicon. 3. Hist. Franc. “Mult ont Franceis Normanz lardiz e de mefaiz e de mediz, sovent lor dient reproviers et claiment bigoz et draschiers.” Wace, Rou, 2, 71. Cf. Sp. bigote, a whisker; hombre de bigote, a man of spirit and vigor; tener bigotes, to be firm and undaunted; It. s-bigottire, to terrify, to appall. Wedgwood and others maintain that bigot is from Beguine, Beghard, q. v.

1Sense 1. A person who is obstinately and unreasonably wedded to a particular religious creed, opinion, practice, or ritual.

To doubt, where bigots had been content to wonder and believe. Macaulay.

2Sense 2. A Venetian liquid measure containing the fourth part of the amphor, or half the boot.

a. Obstinately and blindly attached to some creed, opinion, practice, or ritual; unreasonably devoted to a system or party, and illiberal toward the opinions of others. [Bigot is obs.]

In a country more bigot than ours. Dryden. So nursed and bigoted to strive. Byron.