Bul"ly (&?;), n.; pl. Bullies (&?;). [Cf. LG. bullerjaan, bullerbäk, 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.
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Bul"ly (&?;), a.
1.
Jovial and blustering; dashing. [Slang] "Bless thee, bully doctor." Shak.
2.
Fine; excellent; as, a bully horse. [Slang, U.S.]
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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.
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Bul"ly, v. i.
To act as a bully.
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Bul"ly (?), n., 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.
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