Definitions for: Bully


[n] a cruel and brutal fellow
[adj] (informal) very good; "a bully pulpit"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing"
[v] discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
[v] be bossy towards; "Her big brother always bullied her when she was young"



Webster (1913) Definition: Bul"ly, n.; pl. Bullies. [Cf. LG. bullerjaan,
bullerb["a]k, 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;
one who is threatening and quarrelsome; an insolent,
tyrannical fellow.

Bullies seldom execute the threats they deal in.
--Palmerston.

2. A brisk, dashing fellow. [Slang Obs.] --Shak.


Bul"ly, a.
1. Jovial and blustering; dashing. [Slang] ``Bless thee,
bully doctor.'' --Shak.

2. Fine; excellent; as, a bully horse. [Slang, U.S.]


Bul"ly, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bullied; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bullying.]
To intimidate with threats and by an overbearing, swaggering
demeanor; to act the part of a bully 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, v. i.
To act as a bully.


Bul"ly, n., Bully beef Bul"ly beef` [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.

Synonyms: ballyrag, bang-up, boss around, browbeat, browbeat, bullyrag, corking, cracking, dandy, good, great, groovy, hector, hooligan, keen, neat, nifty, not bad(p), peachy, push around, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, slap-up, smashing, strong-arm, swagger, swell, tough, yob, yobbo, yobo

See Also: aggressor, assailant, assaulter, attacker, blarney, bullyboy, cajole, coax, domineer, intimidate, inveigle, muscleman, palaver, plug-ugly, skinhead, sweet-talk, tough guy, tyrannise, tyrannize, wheedle

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