Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-
Proto-Germanic *bulô
Old English bula
▲
Proto-Germanic *bulô
Old Norse bolibor.
Middle English bole
English bull
From Middle English bole, bul, bule, from a conflation of Old English bula (“bull, steer”) and Old Norse boli, both from Proto-Germanic *bulô (“bull”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰl̥no-, from *bʰel- (“to blow, swell up”). Cognate with West Frisian bolle, Dutch bul, German Low German Bull, German Bulle, Swedish bulla; also Old Irish ball (“limb”), Latin follis (“bellows, leather bag”), Albanian bolle (“testicles”), Ancient Greek φαλλός (phallós, “penis”). Of sense 11, (a man or boy), derived from the Philadelphia English pronunciation of boy, which is practically a homophone of bull.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Large and strong, like a bull.
(attributive, not-comparable) Of large mammals, adult male.
With the low, guttural snarl of the bull ape he sprang for the Frenchman. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 45:
A bull elk can easily cover miles of rugged country in no time, especially if he is wounded or on the run. 2021 [2001], John Eldredge, chapter 1, in Wild at Heart, Expanded edition, Nelson Books, →ISBN, page 2:
a bull elephant
(not-comparable) Characterized by rising prices or belief that prices will rise.
de Bullen- (large and strong) · sv hausse (of a market, in which prices are rising) · de bullen- (large and strong) · da stor og stærk (large and strong)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-
Proto-Germanic *bulô
Old English bula
▲
Proto-Germanic *bulô
Old Norse bolibor.
Middle English bole
English bull
From Middle English bole, bul, bule, from a conflation of Old English bula (“bull, steer”) and Old Norse boli, both from Proto-Germanic *bulô (“bull”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰl̥no-, from *bʰel- (“to blow, swell up”). Cognate with West Frisian bolle, Dutch bul, German Low German Bull, German Bulle, Swedish bulla; also Old Irish ball (“limb”), Latin follis (“bellows, leather bag”), Albanian bolle (“testicles”), Ancient Greek φαλλός (phallós, “penis”). Of sense 11, (a man or boy), derived from the Philadelphia English pronunciation of boy, which is practically a homophone of bull.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) An adult male, specifically: ▸ An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen. ▸ Specifically, one that is uncastrated.
(broadly, countable, uncountable) An adult male, specifically: ▸ An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen. ▸ Any bovine of an aggressive or long-horned breed regardless of age and sex.
(countable, uncountable) An adult male, specifically: ▸ A male of domesticated cattle or oxen of any age.
(countable, uncountable) An adult male, specifically: ▸ Any adult male bovine.
(countable, uncountable) An adult male, specifically: ▸ An adult male of certain large mammals, such as whales, elephants, camels and seals.
The upshot of the affair was that she accompanied me next morning. I rowed into the adjoining cove and up to the edge of the beach. There were seals all about us in the water, and the bellowing thousands on the beach compelled us to shout at each other to make ourselves heard.
"I know men club them," I said, trying to reassure myself and gazing doubtfully at a large bull, not thirty feet away, upreared on his fore-flippers and regarding me intently. "But the question is, How do they club them?" 1904, Jack London, chapter 30, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC:
The quick eyes of a female caught sight of him first. With a barking guttural she called the attention of the others. Several huge bulls stood erect to get a better view of the intruder. With bared fangs and bristling necks they advanced slowly toward him, with deep-throated, ominous growls. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 196:
(slang, uncountable) An adult male, specifically: ▸ Beef.
Meanwhile the Tommies had discovered several large tins of ham in the captured lorry. 'That,' said the big Nazi, 'is for our tea.' 'No,' said a Tommy sergeant-major. 'That's for our tea. For you, chummy, we've kept a nice bit of bull.' 1949, Stephen Peter Llewellyn, Journey Towards Christmas, page 142:
(countable, uncountable) A person, compared to the animal. ▸ A large, strong man.
(countable, uncountable) A person, compared to the animal. ▸ An investor who buys (commodities or securities) in anticipation of a rise in prices.
This accompt has been made to appear a bull accompt, i.e. that the bulls cannot take their stock. The fact is the reverse; it is a bear accompt, but the bears, unable to deliver their stock, have conjointly banged the market, and pocketed the tickets, to defeat the rise and loss that would have ensued to them by their buying on a rising price on the accompt day […] 1821, Bank of England, The Bank - The Stock Exchange - The Bankers ..., page 64:
Bulls are hoping the prosecutions draw a line under the sector's troubled past and will allow it to tap billions of dollars of cash from Wall Street. 2023 December 9, Scott Chipolina, “Unlikely resurgence for bitcoin as bulls bet on Wall Street adoption”, in FT Weekend (Companies & Markets section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 15:
(US, countable, slang, uncountable) A person, compared to the animal. ▸ A policeman; a detective; a railroad security guard.
You never waited until the train stopped to get off. The railroad bulls were waiting at the stops searching for freeloaders. 2021, Rickie Lee Jones, Last Chance Texaco, Grive Press, published 2022, page 93:
The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face. 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter I, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 01:
(countable, slang, uncountable) A person, compared to the animal. ▸ An elderly lesbian.
(countable, uncountable) A person, compared to the animal. ▸ A man who has sex with someone else's partner.
The Vixen, often known as ‘Hotwife’, has sex with the encouragement of her husband or boyfriend with the Bull (that’s the guy who is servicing her). Another scenario is that the Vixen has sex with a Bull outside of the couple’s shared abode. Then she comes home and recounts all the details in a blow-by-blow description to turn the Stag on. 2018 June 1, Holly O'Mahony, “‘Stag’ men love watching other guys have sex with their wives… but it’s not cuckolding”, in The Sun, archived from the original on 04 Jun 2018:
(Philadelphia, countable, slang, uncountable) A person, compared to the animal. ▸ A man or boy.
(UK, countable, historical, obsolete, slang, uncountable) A crown coin; its value, 5 shillings.
Half-a-crown is known as an alderman, half a bull, half a tusheroon, and a madza caroon; whilst a crown piece, or five shillings, may be called either a bull, or a caroon, or a cartwheel, or a coachwheel, or a thick-un, or a tusheroon. 1859, J.C. Hotten, A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words:
(UK, abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, uncountable) Clipping of bullseye.
A second good game was to cannon one galloping camel with another, and crash it into a near tree. Either the tree went down (valley trees in the light Hejaz soil were notably unstable things) or the rider was scratched and torn; or, best of all, he was swept quite out of his saddle, and left impaled on a thorny branch, if not dropped violently to the ground. This counted as a bull, and was very popular with everyone but him. 1926, T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, New York: Anchor, published 1991, page 219:
(UK, countable, uncountable) Clipping of bullseye. ▸ The central portion of a target, inside the inner and magpie.
(abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, euphemistic, informal, slang, uncountable) Clipping of bullshit.
fr cogne (slang: policeman) · sa ऋषभ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · syc ܬܘܪܐ (adult male animal) · fr bœuf (slang: policeman) · fi sonni (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ht toro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · kok बय्ल (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nn okse (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ja 雄牛 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ckb گا (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ba үгеҙ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · zdj mɓe-ɗume (uncastrated adult male bovine) · mr बैल (uncastrated adult male bovine) · la taurus (uncastrated adult male bovine) · fi koiras (adult male animal) · gl almallo (uncastrated adult male bovine) · cy tarw (uncastrated adult male bovine) · kw tarow (uncastrated adult male bovine) · izh härkä (uncastrated adult male bovine) · srn bulu (uncastrated adult male bovine) · bg ченге (slang: policeman) · gv tarroo (uncastrated adult male bovine) · az öküz (uncastrated adult male bovine) · de Stier (uncastrated adult male bovine) · el μπάτσος (slang: policeman) · th พฤษภ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · tpi bulmakau man (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ru бык (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · nap toro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · mic matto'law (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ur سانڈ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · mi pūru (uncastrated adult male bovine) · uk буга́й (uncastrated adult male bovine) · wo yëkk wi (adult male animal) · nl beer (large, strong man) · sw fahali (uncastrated adult male bovine) · uz buqa (uncastrated adult male bovine) · es madero (slang: policeman) · av оц (uncastrated adult male bovine) · kn ಬಸವ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · frr Stiir (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ml ഇടവം (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ru саме́ц (adult male animal) · lmo tòr (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ast bue (uncastrated adult male bovine) · cu бꙑкъ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · cu тоуръ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ti ሶር (uncastrated adult male bovine) · mk збиток (large, strong man) · ast güe (uncastrated adult male bovine) · vo tor (uncastrated adult male bovine) · tl toro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · zza bor (diq) (large, strong man) · hi ऋषभ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · pa ਦਾਂਦ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sv tjur (uncastrated adult male bovine) · bgc बळध (uncastrated adult male bovine) · pdt Boll (uncastrated adult male bovine) · arz تور (uncastrated adult male bovine) · km គោបា (uncastrated adult male bovine) · unm wèhshùmwiselxus (uncastrated adult male bovine) · txb kauᵤrṣe (uncastrated adult male bovine) · alt бука (uncastrated adult male bovine) · as ষাঁড় (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ru быча́ра (large, strong man) · el γουρούνι (slang: policeman) · sdh گا (uncastrated adult male bovine) · kcg a̱mijimi (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ca toro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · et härg (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nl flik (slang: policeman) · lv bullis (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ha sa (uncastrated adult male bovine) · cv вӑкӑр (uncastrated adult male bovine) · kn ಗೂಳಿ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · bho सांड (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sv hane (adult male animal) · cmn 特 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · mt gendus (uncastrated adult male bovine) · zza vistra (adult male animal) · swb kondzo (uncastrated adult male bovine) · tly неҝо (uncastrated adult male bovine) · lez йац (uncastrated adult male bovine) · da haussespekulant (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · nl stier (adult male animal) · tn poo (uncastrated adult male bovine) · hy տավար (large, strong man) · tr boğa (uncastrated adult male bovine) · es poli (slang: policeman) · tig ሶር (uncastrated adult male bovine) · mic natto'law (uncastrated adult male bovine) · gez ሶር (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nv dóola (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ta காளை (uncastrated adult male bovine) · fr vache (slang: policeman) · fi sika (slang: policeman) · oc taur (uncastrated adult male bovine) · it rialzista (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · ain ペコ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · bol bijimi (uncastrated adult male bovine) · fr poulet (slang: policeman) · it toro (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · he שור (uncastrated adult male bovine) · gd tarbh (uncastrated adult male bovine) · fi sonni (adult male animal) · de Bulle (uncastrated adult male bovine) · dsb byk (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sh би̏к (uncastrated adult male bovine) · da tyr (large, strong man) · eo virbovo (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sei tooro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · acw ثور (uncastrated adult male bovine) · vec toro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sei ziix cooha ctam (uncastrated adult male bovine) · arc תורא (uncastrated adult male bovine) · et pull (adult male animal) · mk бик (uncastrated adult male bovine) · zza ga (diq) (uncastrated adult male bovine) · os богъ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · el βόδι (adult male animal) · da strisser (slang: policeman) · mk стропјак (large, strong man) · ru мент (slang: policeman) · kmr ga (uncastrated adult male bovine) · lt bulius (uncastrated adult male bovine) · el ταύρος (uncastrated adult male bovine) · lb Stéier (uncastrated adult male bovine) · kk бұқа (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nds-de Bull (uncastrated adult male bovine) · frr Bol (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ro taur (uncastrated adult male bovine) · mic latto'law (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ru бык (uncastrated adult male bovine) · syl ꠛꠤꠌꠣꠟ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · aqc анс (uncastrated adult male bovine) · da okse (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ga bulla (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · it toro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · de Bulle (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · ka ხარი (uncastrated adult male bovine) · bg бик (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sl bik (uncastrated adult male bovine) · hu bika (uncastrated adult male bovine) · pt brutamontes (large, strong man) · akk 𒋗𒌑𒊒 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nl kolos (large, strong man) · gl touro (adult male animal) · sc trau (uncastrated adult male bovine) · mk бик (large, strong man) · ms lembu jantan (uncastrated adult male bovine) · my နွားထီး (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nl bul (uncastrated adult male bovine) · fy bolle (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ia tauro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · az öküz (adult male animal) · kgp monh (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ak nantwinini (uncastrated adult male bovine) · fa گاو نر (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sv haussespekulant (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · rom guruv (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sh bȉk (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nan-hbl 牛犅 /牛𰠫 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · de Bulle (adult male animal) · fo tarvur (uncastrated adult male bovine) · mi puuru (adult male animal) · bn ষণ্ড (uncastrated adult male bovine) · fi uros (adult male animal) · hy ցուլ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · el βούβαλος (large, strong man) · sa उक्षन् (uncastrated adult male bovine) · id banteng (uncastrated adult male bovine) · gl touro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · xum 𐌁𐌖𐌌 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · rif afunas (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ta ஏறு (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ru бык (large, strong man) · ug بۇقا (uncastrated adult male bovine) · phn 𐤀𐤋𐤐 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ko 황소 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · et sõnn (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ur بیل (uncastrated adult male bovine) · pt toiro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · de Bulle (large, strong man) · uk бик (uncastrated adult male bovine) · vi bò đực (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ru ляга́вый (slang: policeman) · pl byk (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nb okse (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sah оҕус (uncastrated adult male bovine) · bo གླང (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sk býk (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ang fearr (uncastrated adult male bovine) · vo xoil (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ta எருது (uncastrated adult male bovine) · te ఎద్దు (adult male animal) · mn бух (uncastrated adult male bovine) · fi härkä (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · fr taureau (uncastrated adult male bovine) · vo hibub (uncastrated adult male bovine) · am በሬ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · uga 𐎘𐎗 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ko 수컷 (adult male animal) · mk берзански шпекула́нт (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · gl boi (uncastrated adult male bovine) · tr öküz (adult male animal) · sq dem (uncastrated adult male bovine) · eo taŭro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sv snut (slang: policeman) · csb byk (uncastrated adult male bovine) · zza boxe (uncastrated adult male bovine) · xeb 𒄞𒌉 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · wa torea (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sgr نرگو (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ru буга́й (large, strong man) · la bōs (adult male animal) · no okse (large, strong man) · fi karhu (large, strong man) · sq dem (adult male animal) · zza go (diq) (uncastrated adult male bovine) · izh hällö (uncastrated adult male bovine) · io bovulo (uncastrated adult male bovine) · da haussist (finance: investor who buys in anticipation of a rise in prices) · yi ביק (uncastrated adult male bovine) · hi सांड (uncastrated adult male bovine) · tr boğa (adult male animal) · ota بوغا (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ta காளை (large, strong man) · cs býk (uncastrated adult male bovine) · la bōs (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ta ஏறு (adult male animal) · kcg a̱ka̱la̱di (uncastrated adult male bovine) · es toro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · el ταύρος (large, strong man) · it maschio (adult male animal) · mt barri (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sva ჴა̈ნ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · id sapi (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nl stier (uncastrated adult male bovine) · be бык (uncastrated adult male bovine) · xls taurom (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ks دانٛد (uncastrated adult male bovine) · da han (adult male animal) · he פר (uncastrated adult male bovine) · el βόδι (large, strong man) · eu zezen (uncastrated adult male bovine) · no okse (adult male animal) · lez бугъа (uncastrated adult male bovine) · grc ταῦρος (uncastrated adult male bovine) · nl smeris (slang: policeman) · tn poo (adult male animal) · br tarv (uncastrated adult male bovine) · pt touro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · de Bulle (slang: policeman) · de Bullette (slang: policeman) · ga tarbh (uncastrated adult male bovine) · scn tàvuru (uncastrated adult male bovine) · twf tùluʼúna (uncastrated adult male bovine) · de Stier (adult male animal) · pt tira (slang: policeman) · ee nyitsu (uncastrated adult male bovine) · et pull (uncastrated adult male bovine) · scn tàuru (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sga tarb (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ga tarbh (adult male animal) · yi בוהײַ (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ia masculo (adult male animal) · ru му́сор (slang: policeman) · ar ثَوْر (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ta எருது (adult male animal) · cmn 公牛 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · fr mâle (adult male animal) · el γουρουνάκι (slang: policeman) · wa gayet (uncastrated adult male bovine) · pt macho (adult male animal) · hi बैल (uncastrated adult male bovine) · wo yëkk wi (uncastrated adult male bovine) · io tauro (uncastrated adult male bovine) · is naut (uncastrated adult male bovine) · az buğa (uncastrated adult male bovine) · ja 牡牛 (uncastrated adult male bovine) · tr aynasız (slang: policeman) · da tyr (uncastrated adult male bovine) · tpi bulmakau (uncastrated adult male bovine) · sv tjur (adult male animal) · fr chien (slang: policeman) · rsk буяк (uncastrated adult male bovine)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-
Proto-Germanic *bulô
Old English bula
▲
Proto-Germanic *bulô
Old Norse bolibor.
Middle English bole
English bull
From Middle English bole, bul, bule, from a conflation of Old English bula (“bull, steer”) and Old Norse boli, both from Proto-Germanic *bulô (“bull”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰl̥no-, from *bʰel- (“to blow, swell up”). Cognate with West Frisian bolle, Dutch bul, German Low German Bull, German Bulle, Swedish bulla; also Old Irish ball (“limb”), Latin follis (“bellows, leather bag”), Albanian bolle (“testicles”), Ancient Greek φαλλός (phallós, “penis”). Of sense 11, (a man or boy), derived from the Philadelphia English pronunciation of boy, which is practically a homophone of bull.
Meanings
(intransitive, often, with into or through) To force oneself (in a particular direction); to move aggressively.
He bulled his way in.
(intransitive, of a cow or heifer) To be in heat; to be ready for mating with a bull.
(of a bull, transitive) To mate with (a cow or heifer).
(transitive) To endeavour to raise the market price of.
to bull railroad bonds
(transitive) To endeavour to raise prices in.
to bull the market
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
bulling
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
bulls
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
bulled
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
bulled
Tense=Past
lexicographic
Deriveds
bull thistle (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullnose (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-baiting (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · buller (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · red flag to a bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull riding (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-fighting (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-thrower (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull headed (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullpoop (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullwhacker (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullnosed (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull dyke (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · throw the bull around (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · scrub bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull roast (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullseye (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-terrier (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Bull Moose (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · permabull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · cock-and-bull story (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull and cow (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-dagger (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · useless as tits on a bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull run (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull race (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullspeak (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullgine (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · hog bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · like a bull at a gate (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · red rag to a bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullhook (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · crusade bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bulldust (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull in a china shop (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull market (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · mess with the bull and you get the horns (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · trust someone as far as one could fling a bull by the tail (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull fiddler (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull pump (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Banbury story of a cock and bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullfighting (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · brazen bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullsnot (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-fly (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · useful as tits on a bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull kelp (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · hung like a bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull horn (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-finch (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · half bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullshot (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · load of bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull denim (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullpen (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-whip (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · big as bull-beef (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullhorn (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull butter (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-mobile (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullfight (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull shark (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · take the bull by the horns (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull snake (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullish (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Bulstrode (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-horn (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullfaced (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull up (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull gravy (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-headed (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · pit bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullfighter (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · throw the bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull trout (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull terrier (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullock (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · mechanical bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull dust (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull session (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-running (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull week (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull elephant (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · fit as a Mallee bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull ladle (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullbaiting (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull pine (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullfuck (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullfrog (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullpucky (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · nearly never bulled a cow (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull ring (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullsnake (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull rope (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull mallow (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · chrysobull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-bitch (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullscheisse (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-necked (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull wheel (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-speak (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull trap (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bulldozer (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullheaded (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullrail (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-pup (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · harness bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · strong as a bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · ugly as bull-beef (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullwort (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bulldog (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Brahminy bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · red flag in front of a bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull runner (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull fiddle (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull feathers (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · pit bull terrier (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · like a bull in a china shop (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Brahmany bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullwhip (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-like (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullpoo (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · stingbull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullneck (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull rail (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Turnbull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull daisy (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull stag (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bulldung (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullroarer (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull-fuck (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullshit (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullhead (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullnecked (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullwhack (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullswool (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullbleep (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · grab the bull by the horns (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullcrap (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullet (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · blue bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullplop (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · charge like a wounded bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · golden bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull con (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bulldoze (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull ant (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · superbull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullcrud (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullscutter (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Banbury story of a cock and a bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · shoot the bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull feast (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullfinch (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bullpup (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · bull bar (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Irish bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Adoribull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1)) · Red Bull (terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb bull (etymology 1))
Translations (11)
pt forçar (force oneself) · mk светнува (polish boots to a high shine) · ga doir (mate with (a cow or heifer)) · es mamar (lie) · mk гланца (polish boots to a high shine) · sv finputsa (polish boots to a high shine) · da ligge (lie) · sv putsa (polish boots to a high shine) · ia fortiar (force oneself) · da pudse (polish boots to a high shine) · da presse (force oneself)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bew-der.?
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.?
Latin bullabor.
Old French bullebor.
Middle English bulle
English bull
From Middle English bulle, from Old French bulle, from Latin bulla, from Gaulish. Doublet of bull (“bubble”) and bulla.
Meanings
A papal bull, an official document or edict from the Pope.
A seal affixed to a document, especially a document from the Pope.
nl zegel (seal) · ast bulda (official document from the Pope) · es bula (official document from the Pope) · de Bulle (official document from the Pope) · ko 불라 (official document from the Pope) · hu bulla (official document from the Pope) · hu bulla (seal) · bg була (official document from the Pope) · ga bulla (seal) · ca segell (seal) · pl bulla (official document from the Pope) · eo buleo (official document from the Pope) · pt selo (seal) · sv sigill (seal) · da segl (seal) · sv bulla (official document from the Pope) · io bul-sigluro (seal) · nl bul (official document from the Pope) · de Bulle (seal) · fi bulla (official document from the Pope) · ar مَرْسُوم (official document from the Pope) · it bolla (official document from the Pope) · ga bulla (official document from the Pope) · ko 불라 (seal) · ru бу́лла (official document from the Pope) · ia sigillo (seal) · ca butlla (official document from the Pope) · ca butlla (seal) · ia bulla (official document from the Pope) · fi sinetti (seal) · fr sceau (seal) · it sigillo (seal) · fur bole (official document from the Pope) · io bul-letro (official document from the Pope) · fr bulle (official document from the Pope) · sl bula (official document from the Pope) · pt bula (official document from the Pope) · cs bula (official document from the Pope)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bew-der.?
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.?
Latin bullabor.
Old French bullebor.
Middle English bulle
English bull
From Middle English bulle, from Old French bulle, from Latin bulla, from Gaulish. Doublet of bull (“bubble”) and bulla.
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰā-
Proto-Germanic *bō-
Middle Low German bôlenbor.
Old French bouler
Old French boulbor.
Middle English bull
English bull
From Middle English bull, bul, boule (“falsehood, deceit”), probably from Old French boul, boule, bole (“fraud, deceit, cunning”), from Old French bouler, boler (“to deceive, delude, lure, take in”), from Middle Low German bôlen (“to court, to woo”). Cognate with German buhlen (“to woo”). Doublet of bully.
Often reanalyzed by surface analysis to be an expurgated clipping of bullshit.
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰā-
Proto-Germanic *bō-
Middle Low German bôlenbor.
Old French bouler
Old French boulbor.
Middle English bull
English bull
From Middle English bull, bul, boule (“falsehood, deceit”), probably from Old French boul, boule, bole (“fraud, deceit, cunning”), from Old French bouler, boler (“to deceive, delude, lure, take in”), from Middle Low German bôlen (“to court, to woo”). Cognate with German buhlen (“to woo”). Doublet of bully.
Often reanalyzed by surface analysis to be an expurgated clipping of bullshit.
Meanings
To mock; to cheat.
(intransitive) To lie, to tell untruths.
(UK, transitive) To polish (boots) to a high shine.
We were to repeat our normal practise of me bulling his boots and him ironing my kit. 2014, Sean Connolly, British Army on the Rampage (B.A.O.R.), page 118:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bew-der.?
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.?
Latin bullabor.
Old French bullebor.
Middle English bowle
English bull
From Middle English bowle, boule, from Old French bulle, boule (“ball”), from Latin bulla (“round swelling”), of Gaulish origin. Doublet of bull (“papal bull”) and bulla.