A male bovine animal, or in financial contexts, an investor who believes market prices will rise.
From Old English 'bula', ultimately from Proto-Germanic 'bullōn'. The financial meaning emerged in the 18th century, possibly from the way bulls attack by thrusting upward with their horns, symbolizing rising prices.
The pairing of 'bull' and 'bear' markets comes from how these animals attack - bulls thrust upward while bears swipe downward, making them perfect metaphors for market directions. Ancient cultures revered bulls as symbols of strength and fertility, with the famous Wall Street bull statue continuing this tradition in the heart of capitalism.
Used as male-coded insult ('bullish,' 'bull-headed'); metaphors treating aggression/dominance as male traits reinforce stereotypes.
In financial contexts ('bull market') it's neutral. Avoid 'bull in a china shop' as gendered aggression metaphor.
["bold","aggressive","dominant"]
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.