Search results for 'bully':

bully¹ noun (bullies) a person who hurts, frightens or torments weaker or smaller people. verb (bullied, bullying) 1 to act like a bully towards someone; to threaten or persecute them. 2 (usually bully someone into something) to force them to do something they do not want to do. adj, exclamation, dated colloq excellent; very good. bullying noun. bully for you! colloq, now usually ironic good for you! well done!
ETYMOLOGY: 16c, originally meaning 'sweetheart', but by the 18c 'ruffian' or bully boy: from Dutch boele lover.

bully² and bully beef noun especially in the armed services: corned beef; tinned or pickled beef.
ETYMOLOGY: 18c: from French bouilli boiled beef.

bully³ verb (bullies, bullied, bullying) intrans (usually bully off) hockey, formerly to begin or re-start a game by performing a bully or bully-off, a move involving hitting one's stick three times against an opponent's before going for the ball. Now called pass-back.
ETYMOLOGY: 19c.