A tough, aggressive young man hired to intimidate or harm others; a hired thug or street fighter.
Compound of 'bully' (a person who intimidates others) + 'boy' (from Old English cnapa, young man). The term emerged in 19th-century urban contexts for street gangs and hired muscle.
In Victorian London, 'bullyboys' were organized street thugs hired by businesses to intimidate rivals—police had such trouble controlling them that it led to the creation of professional police forces!
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