Bullier

/ˈbʊliər/ adjective

Definition

Comparative form of 'bully': more aggressive, dominating, or inclined to bully others; or more muscular and bullish in appearance.

Etymology

From 'bully' with the comparative suffix '-er', following the standard pattern for comparing adjectives. 'Bully' itself comes from Dutch 'boel' meaning 'lover' or 'brother,' which evolved to mean 'ruffian' in 17th century London.

Kelly Says

The word 'bully' originally meant a trusted friend or comrade in Dutch—it only became negative when imported to English, showing how the same word can have totally opposite meanings in different languages!

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