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bully

 - 6 dictionary results
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bul⋅ly

1  [bool-ee] noun, plural -lies, verb, -lied, -ly⋅ing, adjective, interjection
Use bully in a Sentence
–noun
1. a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.
2. Archaic. a man hired to do violence.
3. Obsolete. a pimp; procurer.
4. Obsolete. good friend; good fellow.
5. Obsolete. sweetheart; darling.
–verb (used with object)
6. to act the bully toward; intimidate; domineer.
–verb (used without object)
7. to be loudly arrogant and overbearing.
–adjective
8. Informal. fine; excellent; very good.
9. dashing; jovial; high-spirited.
–interjection
10. Informal. good! well done!
Origin:
1530–40; < MD boele lover

Related forms:
bul⋅ly⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
6. cow, browbeat, coerce; terrorize, tyrannize.
Bullying Prevention Video
Bullying prevention training videos & DVDs.
www.trainingabc.com
Teach the Bully a Lesson
Download-able K-6 Bullying Lessons Ready Plans, Worksheets, Audios
www.bullyinglessons.com

bul⋅ly

2  [bool-ee]
–noun
bully beef.
Origin:
1865–70; < F bouilli, short for boeuf bouilli boiled meat. See boil 1 , beef

bul⋅ly

3  [bool-ee]
–noun, plural -lies.
1. Soccer. a desperate, freewheeling scramble for the ball by a number of players, usually in the goal area.
2. 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.
Origin:
1860–65; of obscure orig.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bully
bul·ly 1   (bŏŏl'ē)   
n.   pl. bul·lies

  1. A person who is habitually cruel or overbearing, especially to smaller or weaker people.

  2. A hired ruffian; a thug.

  3. A pimp.

  4. Archaic A fine person.

  5. Archaic A sweetheart.

v.   bul·lied, bul·ly·ing, bul·lies

v.   tr.

  1. To treat in an overbearing or intimidating manner. See Synonyms at intimidate.

  2. To make (one's way) aggressively.

v.   intr.

  1. To behave like a bully.

  2. To force one's way aggressively or by intimidation: "They bully into line at the gas pump" (Martin Gottfried).

adj.  Excellent; splendid: did a bully job of persuading the members.
interj.  Used to express approval: Bully for you!

[Possibly from Middle Dutch boele, sweetheart, probably alteration of broeder, brother; see bhrāter- in Indo-European roots.]
bul·ly 2   (bŏŏl'ē)   
n.  Canned or pickled beef. Also called bully beef.

[Perhaps French bouilli, boiled meat, label on canned beef, from past participle of bouillir, to boil, from Old French boilir; see boil1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

bully  (n.)
1538, originally "sweetheart," applied to either sex, from Du. boel "lover, brother," probably dim. of M.H.G. buole "brother," of uncertain origin (cf. Ger. buhle "lover"). Meaning deteriorated 17c. through "fine fellow," "blusterer," to "harasser of the weak" (1653). Perhaps this was by infl. of bull, but a connecting sense between "lover" and "ruffian" may be in "protector of a prostitute," which was one sense of bully (though not specifically attested until 1706). The verb is first attested 1710. The expression meaning "worthy, jolly, admirable" (esp. in 1864 U.S. slang bully for you!) is first attested 1681, and preserves an earlier, positive sense of the word.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Statistics On Bullying
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Child Bullies & Bullying
How to Help Your Child Deal with a Bully.
www.ParentsConnect.com
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