English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

From 1530, as a term of endearment, probably a diminutive ( +‎ -y) of Dutch boel (“lover; brother”), from Middle Dutch boel, boele (“brother; lover”), from Old Dutch *buolo, from Proto-Germanic *bōlô (compare Middle Low German bôle (“brother”), Middle High German buole (“brother; close relative; close relation”) (whence German Buhle (“lover”)), Old English Bōla, Bōlla (personal name), diminutive of expressive *bō- (“brother, father”). Compare also Latvian bālinš (“brother”). More at boy.

The term acquired negative senses during the 17th century; first ‘noisy, blustering fellow’ then ‘a person who is cruel to others’. Possibly influenced by bull (“male cattle”) or via the ‘prostitute's minder’ sense.[1] The positive senses are dated, but survive in phrases such as bully pulpit.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]

bully (countable and uncountable, plural bullies)

Translations [ edit ]

hired thug Bulgarian: главорез (bg) m ( glavorez )

Finnish: palkattu pahoinpitelijä Latin: grassātor m

Spanish: matón m , sicario (es) m

— see pimp pimp

— see bully beef bully beef

a small freshwater fish Maori: hawai tītarakura

Verb [ edit ]

bully (third-person singular simple present bullies, present participle bullying, simple past and past participle bullied)

( transitive ) To intimidate (someone) as a bully. see Thesaurus: intimidate You shouldn't bully people for being gay. ( transitive ) To act aggressively towards. push around ride roughshod over 2011 January 15, Sam Sheringham, “Chelsea 2 -03 Blackburn Rovers”, in BBC ‎[4]: January 15, Sam Sheringham, “Chelsea 2 -03 Blackburn Rovers”, in The Potters know their strengths and played to them perfectly here, out-muscling Bolton in midfield and bullying the visitors' back-line at every opportunity.

Translations [ edit ]

Adjective [ edit ]

bully (comparative bullier, superlative bulliest)

( US , slang ) Very good. excellent see also Thesaurus: excellent a bully horse 1861, Daniel Bryant, Bryant's Songs from Dixie's Land ‎[5], page 19: , Daniel Bryant,, page 19: To sing a bully song I'll try, / Bully for you, bully for you, / Gay as they make them, here I am, / Bully for you, for you. ( slang ) Jovial and blustering. dashing 1597, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor Act II, scene iii: Bless thee, bully doctor!

Derived terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ]

Interjection [ edit ]

bully

( for often followed by ) Well done! see Thesaurus: well done Bully, she's finally asked for that promotion! 1979, Jerome Alden, Bully: An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt , OCLC 4665204 , page 3: , Jerome Alden,, page 3: Bully! Bully! Finis coronet opus, “the end crowns all”; “may the last be the best!” By Godfrey it was delightful.

Translations [ edit ]

Further reading [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

^ Online Etymology Dictionary , 2001–2020, retrieved : “Meaning deteriorated 17c. through "fine fellow" and "blusterer" to "harasser of the weak" (1680s, from bully-ruffian, 1650s).”. bully ” in Douglas Harper,, 2001–2020, retrieved : “Meaning deteriorated 17c. through "fine fellow" and "blusterer" to "harasser of the weak" (1680s, from bully-ruffian, 1650s).”.

Dutch [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

Borrowed from English bully, itself a derivation of Dutch boel (“lover; brother”).

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]

bully m (plural bully's)

( field hockey ) bully ( way of resuming the game with a standoff between two opposing players who repeatedly hit each other's sticks, then try to gain possession of the ball )

Spanish [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]