bully

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A person who is intentionally physically or emotionally cruel to others, especially to…

   A person who is intentionally physically or emotionally cruel to others, especially to those whom they perceive as being vulnerable or of less power or privilege.

   • A playground bully pushed a girl off the swing.
   • I noticed you being a bully towards people with disabilities.
2. 2

   A noisy, blustering, tyrannical person, more insolent than courageous

   A noisy, blustering, tyrannical person, more insolent than courageous; one who is threatening and quarrelsome.

   • Besides, bullies seldom execute the threats they deal in; and men of trick and cunning are not always men of desperate resolves.
   • And I think the facts are that Beijing is a belligerent bully jealous and envious of what Taiwan has accomplished- mainland China- that's what I get out of all of this.
3. 3

   A hired thug.

4. ›+ 15 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A sex worker's minder.

      • The Proclamation Society and the Society for the Suppression of Vice were more concerned with obscene literature […] than with hands-on street battles with prostitutes and their bullies […].
   2. 5

      Bully beef.

   3. 6

      A brisk, dashing fellow.

      • What sayest thou, Bully Bottom?
   4. 7

      The small scrum in the Eton College field game.

   5. 8

      Any of various small freshwater or brackishwater fish of the family Eleotridae

      Any of various small freshwater or brackishwater fish of the family Eleotridae; sleeper gobies.

   6. 9

      An (eldest) brother

      An (eldest) brother; a fellow workman; comrade

      • Frae Team Gut to Whitley, we' coals black an' brown For the Amphitrite loaded, the keel had come down— But the bullies ower neet had their gobs se oft wet, That the nyem o' the ship yen an' a' did forget.
   7. 10

      A companion

      A companion; mate (male or female).

   8. 11

      A darling, sweetheart (male or female).

      • I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heart-string / I love the lovely bully. What is thy name?
      • I have promised to be with the sweet bully early in the morning of her important day.
      • What! manim-an—kiss your child, man alive. That I may never, but he looks at the darlin’ as if it was a sod of turf! Throth you’re not worthy of havin’ such a bully.
   9. 12

      A standoff between two players from the opposing teams, who repeatedly hit each other's…

      A standoff between two players from the opposing teams, who repeatedly hit each other's hockey sticks and then attempt to acquire the ball, as a method of resuming the game in certain circumstances.

   10. 13

       A miner's hammer.

   11. 14

       To intimidate (someone) as a bully.

       • You shouldn't bully people for being weak.
       • I won't have you bullying us out my own house.
       • Bradly's stomach kinked in on itself, thinking of Cora struck silly with that corpse on her hands and the copper bullying the truth out of her.
   12. 15

       To act aggressively towards.

       • 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.
   13. 16

       Very good.

       • a bully horse
       • 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.
   14. 17

       Jovial and blustering.

       • Bless thee, bully doctor!
   15. 18

       Well done

       Well done; often sarcastic in modern use.

       • Bully, she's finally asked for that promotion!
       • Bully! Bully! Finis coronet opus, “the end crowns all”; “may the last be the best!” By Godfrey it was delightful.

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