Definition: A servant or valet to an army officer.

Alright class, settle down, let’s take a look! That definition you read – “a servant or valet to an army officer” – is quite old indeed. It comes from a French word, "batard," which meant ‘bastard,’ and was used as a slang term for someone who served a high-ranking soldier. Think of it like a personal assistant, but with a rather prickly history! Now, when we talk about Batman , it’s a completely different story, you see. He's not a servant at all – he’s a symbol, a legend, wild and free! Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, way back in the forties, Batman is a dark knight, a shadowy vigilante. He fights crime in Gotham City with gadgets and grit, always striving to do what's right. Think of it this way: that old definition doesn’t fit his purpose at all! He’s not serving anyone but justice – answering to no one but his own conscience. Does that make a little more sense? Now, who can tell me why Batman wears a cape and cowl?