Synonyms

John Bull

Origin

John Bull

noun
1.
England; the English people.
2.
the typical Englishman.

Origin:
1705–15; named after John Bull, chief character in Arbuthnot's allegory The History of John Bull (1712)

John Bullish, adjective
John Bullishness, noun
John Bullism, noun

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John Bull is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
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Bull

[bool]
noun
John. John Bull.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
John Bull
 
n
1.  a personification of England or the English people
2.  a typical Englishman
 
[C18: name of a character intended to be representative of the English nation in The History of John Bull (1712) by John Arbuthnot]
 
John Bullish
 
adj
 
John Bullishness
 
n
 
John Bullism
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

John Bull
"Englishman who exemplifies the national character," 1772, from name of a character representing the English nation in Arbuthnot's satire "History of John Bull" (1712).
EXPAND

bull
"papal edict," c.1300, from L. bulla "sealed document" (cf. O.Fr. bulle, It. bulla), originally the word for the seal itself, from bulla "round swelling, knob," said ultimately to be from Gaulish, from PIE *beu-, a base supposed to have formed words associated with swelling (cf. Lith. bule "buttocks,"
M.Du. puyl "bag").
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary

John Bull definition


A figure who stands for England in literary and political satire and in cartoons. John Bull is a stout, feisty man, often shown in a suit made out of the British flag.

Note: John Bull is the British equivalent of the United States' symbol Uncle Sam.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary

bull definition


  1. n.
    nonsense; bullshit. : Don't give me that bull! I won't buy it.
  2. tv. & in.
    to lie to or deceive someone. : Stop bulling me!
  3. n.
    a police officer; a private detective or guard. : Here come the bulls. Get out.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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