• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / How Did the Word “Bully” Originate and Why Does it Have Both Good and Bad Connotations?

How Did the Word “Bully” Originate and Why Does it Have Both Good and Bad Connotations?

April 30, 2020 by Karen Hill

Today a bully is generally a description of a brute who intimidates someone weaker or more vulnerable.

But in the United States the positive power of the presidency is often referred to as the “bully pulpit.”

In the 1500s, the word in its positive sense entered English from the Dutch boel, meaning “sweetheart” or “brother,” but by the 1700s, the word’s meaning deteriorated when it became the popular description of a pimp who protected his prostitutes with violence.

In North America, distanced by the ocean, the word stayed closer to its positive origins and gave rise to the expression “bully for you,” meaning “admirable or worthy of praise.”

Related Facts

  • What was the European Age of Exploration?
  • Which Explorers First Explored the Continents of the World?
  • Who Were the First Explorers of Ancient Civilization?
  • The History of the Dictionary
  • Top 25 Inventions That Changed the World
  • Top 25 Inventions That Changed Our Lives Forever

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Why Are Small Rental Apartments Called “Digs” and Where Did the Slang Term Come From?
Next Post: How Did “Greensleeves” The Christmas Song Get its Name and Where Did it Come From? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2020 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy