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Webster 1913 Edition

Bully

Bul′ly

(bụl′ly̆)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Bullies
(bŭl′lĭz)
.
[Cf. LG.
bullerjaan
,
bullerbäk
,
bullerbrook
, a blusterer, D.
bulderaar
a bluster,
bulderen
to bluster; prob. of imitative origin; or cf. MHG.
buole
lover, G.
buhle
.]
1.
A noisy, blustering fellow, more insolent than courageous, who threatens, intimidates, or badgers people who are smaller or weaker than he is; an insolent, tyrannical fellow.
Bullies
seldom execute the threats they deal in.
Palmerston.
2.
A brisk, dashing fellow.
[Slang Obs.]
Shak.

Bul′ly

(bụl′ly̆)
,
Adj.
1.
Jovial and blustering; dashing.
[Slang]
“Bless thee, bully doctor.”
Shak.
2.
Fine; excellent;
as, a
bully
horse
.
[Slang, U.S.]

Bul′ly

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Bullied
(bụl′lēd)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Bullying
.]
To intimidate or badger with threats and by an overbearing, swaggering demeanor; to act the part of a bully{1} toward.
For the last fortnight there have been prodigious shoals of volunteers gone over to
bully
the French, upon hearing the peace was just signing.
Tatler.
Syn. – To bluster; swagger; hector; domineer.

Bul′ly

,
Verb.
I.
To act as a bully{1}.

Webster 1828 Edition

Bully

BULL'Y

,
Noun.
A noisy, blustering overbearing fellow, more distinguished for insolence and empty menaces, than for courage, and disposed to provoke quarrels.

BULL'Y

,
Verb.
T.
To insult and overbear with noise and blustering menaces.

Definition 2024

bully

bully

English

Noun

bully ‎(countable and uncountable, plural bullies)

  1. A person who is cruel to others, especially those who are weaker or have less power.
    A playground bully pushed a girl off the swing.
    I noticed you being a bully towards people with disabilities.
  2. A noisy, blustering fellow, more insolent than courageous; one who is threatening and quarrelsome; an insolent, tyrannical fellow.
    • Palmerston
      Bullies seldom execute the threats they deal in.
  3. A hired thug.
  4. A prostitute’s minder; a pimp.
  5. (uncountable) Bully beef.
  6. (obsolete) A brisk, dashing fellow.
    "Bully Bottom" from A Midsummer Night's Dream, III, i, 6.
  7. The small scrum in the Eton College field game.
  8. A small freshwater fish.
  9. (dialectal or obsolete) An (eldest) brother; a fellow workman
  10. (dialectal) A companion; mate (male or female)

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

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

  1. (transitive) To intimidate (someone) as a bully.
    You shouldn't bully people for being gay.
  2. (transitive) To act aggressively towards.
    • 2011 January 15, Sam Sheringham, “Chelsea 2 -03 Blackburn Rovers”, in BBC:
      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.

Synonyms

Translations

Adjective

bully ‎(comparative bullier, superlative bulliest)

  1. (US, slang) Very good; excellent.
    a bully horse
  2. (slang) Jovial and blustering; dashing.
    • Shakespeare
      Bless thee, bully doctor.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Interjection

bully

  1. (often followed by for) Well done!
    She's finally leaving her abusive husband — bully for her!

Synonyms

Translations

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbʊli/
  • Rhymes: -ʊli

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