bear leader (barle"der)

1. A person who leads about a trained bear for exhibition. Hence-2. A tutor or governor in charge of a youth of rank at the university or on his travels, or one in a similar relation. [Humorous.] Young gentleman, I am the bear - leader, being appointed your tutor. Colman the Younger. They pounced upon the stray nobility, and seized young lords travelling with their bear - leaders . Thackeray, Book of Snobs, vii.