bully
UK[ˈbʊli]US[ˈbʊli]
n
A person who uses their strength or power to hurt or frighten weaker people.
v
To use your strength or power to hurt or frighten someone weaker than you.
Etymology
The word 'bully' entered English in the 16th century from the Dutch 'boel', meaning 'lover' or 'brother', originally a term of affection. Its meaning shifted dramatically in English, first to describe a fine fellow or a blustering gallant, and then, by the late 17th century, to its current negative sense of a person who intimidates or persecutes those perceived as weaker. This semantic journey from a term of endearment to one of oppression illustrates a process called pejoration, where a word's meaning deteriorates over time, influenced by the behaviors of swaggering 'gallants' who were more about bluster and intimidation than genuine affection or bravery.
Analysis
The word 'bully' is a simplex word. It is a loanword from Dutch, where 'boel' meant 'lover' or 'brother', and the diminutive 'boelie' was a term of endearment akin to 'sweetheart'.
Examples
He was accused of being a school bully.
Don't let anyone bully you into doing something you don't want to do.
The manager was known for bullying his staff.