or bejan, baijan, subs. (Aberdeen university).—A student of the first year. [A corruption of the French béjaune (bec jaune), unsophisticated young man, compared to an unfledged blackbird.] Second year students are semi-BEJANTS, third year students ‘tertians’, and fourth year, ‘magistrands.’
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Bejaune: m. A novice … or yong beginner in, a Trade, or Art.
1865. G. MACDONALD, Alec Forbes of Howglen, xxxiv. The benches were occupied by about two hundred students, most of the freshmen or BEJANS in their red gowns.
1887. Standard, Feb. 10, 5, 2. The term BAIJAN, used in one of the Scottish universities to designate a freshman, is from the French bec jaune, yellow beak—young birds having usually bills of this hue.
