a blustering, mean, or predatory person who, from a perceived position of relative power, intimidates, abuses, harasses, or coerces people, especially those considered unlikely to defend themselves: playground bullies targeting children with disabilities;a workplace bully who cuts me off when I speak.
Archaic. a man hired to do violence.
Obsolete. a pimp; procurer.
Obsolete. a good friend; good fellow.
Obsolete. a sweetheart; darling.
verb (used with object),bul·lied,bul·ly·ing.
to act the bully toward; habitually intimidate, abuse, or harass: The boy next door constantly bullies the younger children in the neighborhood.
to coerce or compel by bullying: The salesman bullied me into upgrading the car's paint protection and rust-proofing.
verb (used without object),bul·lied,bul·ly·ing.
to act as a bully: People who bully are often very insecure.
adjective
Informal. fine; excellent; very good: What a bully meal!
Archaic. dashing; jovial; high-spirited.
interjection
Informal. good! well done!: If your bus commute saves you time and gets you to work on time, well bully for you!
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WATCH NOW: The Word "Bully" Used To Mean ... "Sweetheart"?!
The word bully is first recorded around the mid-1500s, when it actually meant—wait for it—“sweetheart.” What?!
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Origin of bully
1
First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle Dutch boele “lover”
First recorded in 1750–55; from French bouilli, short for boeuf bouilli “boiled meat”; see origin at boil1, beef
Definition for bully (3 of 3)
bully3
[ bool-ee ]
/ ˈbʊl i /
noun,pluralbul·lies.
Soccer. a desperate, freewheeling scramble for the ball by a number of players, usually in the goal area.
Field Hockey. a method of putting the ball into play in which two opponents, facing each other, tap their sticks on the ground near the ball and then make contact with each other's sticks over the ball three times, after which each tries to gain possession of the ball.
When people tell you what’s literally going on with them and then people still continue to bully them.
ICYMI: Summer Walker Takes Home Her First Billboard Music Award For ‘Best R&B Female Artist’|Rachaell Davis|October 16, 2020|Essence.com
He was bullied, of course, and though there were a few guys in his class that he called friends, he never truly knew whom he could trust.
A sweet book about first love|Terri Schlichenmeyer|October 11, 2020|Washington Blade
Studies suggest kids who are bullied or exposed to dangerous situations are more likely to have paranormal fantasies, a trend psychologists also found in adults with a history of childhood trauma.
Why do we see ghosts?|Jake Bittle|October 6, 2020|Popular Science
He’d seen him bully doctors into giving both himself and his athletes prescription drugs they didn’t have a medical need for.
Inside a secret running program at Nike and a win-at-all-costs corporate culture|Rachel King|October 6, 2020|Fortune
UNO puts such an onus on smoking students that it ultimately seems like a bully, even more than a nanny.
The University Of New Orleans’ Cigarette Ban Is Total BS|Chloé Valdary|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And when we have been spared such tragedy, it has happened precisely because presidents have stood up to the bully caucus.
Please—Let's Not Destroy ISIS|Michael Tomasky|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But as a true anti-bullying champion will tell you, a bully is no less a bully simply because his victim seeks to excuse him.
Ray Rice Should Have Remembered His 'Kindness' Anti-Bullying Wristband|Michael Daly|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or maybe even one on each wrist, both reading “I AM A BULLY.”
Ray Rice Should Have Remembered His 'Kindness' Anti-Bullying Wristband|Michael Daly|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If I am elected, then I will have power and the ability to ‘bully’ Republicans, as you say.
Dem Candidate: GOP Worse Than ISIS|Olivia Nuzzi|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The bully of the music-hall shouting "Jingo" had his special audience.
The Whirlpool|George Gissing
Wherever Henry or his allies could bribe or bully the learned doctors, an answer was usually given in the affirmative.
A Student's History of England, v. 2 (of 3)|Samuel R. Gardiner.
Once Starrett had motored up officiously to bully Wherry into coming back to him.
Diane of the Green Van|Leona Dalrymple
Bully yarn youve turned up, came his appreciative comment over the clatter of the keys.
The Gray Phantom's Return|Herman Landon
Men are a good deal like pintos; some you can coax and some you can bully, but they all of 'em buck at the first gate.
The Fifth Ace|Douglas Grant
British Dictionary definitions for bully (1 of 2)
bully1
/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /
nounplural-lies
a person who hurts, persecutes, or intimidates weaker people
archaica hired ruffian
obsoletea procurer; pimp
obsoletea fine fellow or friend
obsoletea sweetheart; darling
verb-lies, -lyingor-lied
(when tr , often foll by into) to hurt, intimidate, or persecute (a weaker or smaller person), esp to make him do something
adjective
dashing; jollymy bully boy
informalvery good; fine
interjection
Also: bully for youinformalwell done! bravo!
Word Origin for bully
C16 (in the sense: sweetheart, hence fine fellow, hence swaggering coward): probably from Middle Dutch boele lover, from Middle High German buole, perhaps childish variant of bruoderbrother
British Dictionary definitions for bully (2 of 2)
bully2
/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /
nounplural-lies
any of various small freshwater fishes of the genera Gobiomorphus and Philynodon of New ZealandAlso called (NZ): pakoko, titarakura, toitoi
Literary Bullies Who Are Meaner Than We RememberedBullies are discussed a lot these days, but they aren't something new. Tormenters have been around for a long time ... especially in literature. Let's take an inside look at the characters who are bullies and learn about their consequences.
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The Word “Bully” Used To Mean … “Sweetheart”?!The word bully is first recorded around the mid-1500s, when it actually meant—wait for it—“sweetheart.” What?!