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bullyboy

American  
[bool-ee-boi] / ˈbʊl iˌbɔɪ /

noun

  1. a ruffian or hired hoodlum, especially one working for or associated with a political group.


bullyboy British  
/ ˈbʊlɪˌbɔɪ /

noun

    1. a ruffian or tough, esp a hired one

    2. ( as modifier )

      bullyboy tactics

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bullyboy

First recorded in 1600–10; bully 1 + boy


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He insists to this day that the Review-Journal’s new owner – “The bullyboy of Las Vegas Boulevard” – solely intended to make an example of him.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 23, 2015

The National Farmers' Union, which lobbied the government to appoint the ombudsman, has accused the big supermarkets of "bullyboy tactics" by trying to renegotiate contracts and reduce prices.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 16, 2010

Nasser's dispatch of Egyptian troops to Syria suggested he did not like another bullyboy muscling in on his territory.

From Time Magazine Archive

To drum up a little action, London was described as a Blackpool bullyboy, sportswriters wrote of his devastating right.

From Time Magazine Archive

Later in the month, after even rougher bullyboy tactics by Gunawardena's dockworkers immobilized 72 cargo-crammed freighters in the harbor, Banda nationalized the port of Colombo.

From Time Magazine Archive

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