bully

bully
bully (n.) 1530s, originally "sweetheart," applied to either sex, from Du. boel "lover, brother," probably dim. of M.H.G. buole "brother," of uncertain origin (Cf. Ger. buhle "lover"). Meaning deteriorated 17c. through "fine fellow," "blusterer," to "harasser of the weak" (1680s, from bully-ruffian, 1650s). Perhaps this was by influence of bull (n.1), but a connecting sense between "lover" and "ruffian" may be in "protector of a prostitute," which was one sense of bully (though not specifically attested until 1706). The verb is first attested 1710. The expression meaning "worthy, jolly, admirable" (esp. in 1864 U.S. slang bully for you!) is first attested 1680s, and preserves an earlier, positive sense of the word.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Bully — Bully: Scholarship Edition Североамериканская обложка версии для PlayStation 2 Разработчик …   Википедия

  • Bully — bezeichnet: eine Person, die mobbt, siehe Mobbing einen Einwurf beim Eishockey, siehe Bully (Eishockey) die Hunderasse Französische Bulldogge in der Informatik einen Auswahlalgorithmus, siehe Bullyalgorithmus Bully – Diese Kids schockten Amerika …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bully — may refer to: *Bullying * Bully (film), a 2001 Larry Clark film * Bully (video game), a video game by Rockstar Vancouver * The Bully ( SpongeBob SquarePants episode) *Bully les Mines, Pas de Calais, France *Bully pulpit, a term created by… …   Wikipedia

  • Bully — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Bully puede referirse a : Canis Canem Edit, videojuego. Bully, película. Bullying es un anglicismo utilizado para referirse al acoso escolar.  Francia Bully, población de Loira (Francia). Bully, población… …   Wikipedia Español

  • bully — bully1 [bool′ē] n. pl. bullies [orig., sweetheart < Du boel, lover, brother < MHG buole (Ger buhle), lover, prob. orig. dim. of bruder,BROTHER; later infl. by BULL1] 1. a person who hurts, frightens, or tyrannizes over those who are smaller …   English World dictionary

  • Bully — Bul ly (b[.u]l l[y^]), a. 1. Jovial and blustering; dashing. [Slang] Bless thee, bully doctor. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Fine; excellent; as, a bully horse. [Slang, U.S.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bully — Bul ly, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bullied} (b[.u]l l[=e]d); 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. [1913 Webster] For the last fortnight there …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bully — Bul ly, v. i. To act as a bully[1]. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bully — Bul ly (b[.u]l l[y^]), n., Bully beef Bul ly beef (b[.u]l l[y^] b[=e]f ). [F. bouilli boiled meat, fr. bouillir to boil. See {Boil}, v. The word bouilli was formerly commonly used on the labels of canned beef.] Pickled or canned beef. [Webster… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bully — s.n. (Sport) Angajament (2). [pron. bá li. / < engl. bully]. Trimis de LauraGellner, 23.11.2004. Sursa: DN …   Dicționar Român

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