Word of the Week: October 2, 2000
Brothers Are Bullies

Word of the Week: Brothers Are Bullies Those tyrannical cowards called "bullies," who are the terror of the weak, are--etymologically speaking--most likely either lovers or brothers. It turns out that the most likely story is that we got bully from the Dutch boel, which meant either "lover" or "brother." In modern German, buhle still means "lover" and used to be used for "friend, kinsman." And for those of you who are wondering why English people call things that are first-rate "bully," well, your guess is as good as mine. It looks like the latter "bully" is from the same source as the other one. Maybe lovers and brothers tend to be overbearing, and so they became "bullies"; but they are also looked up to and admired, and so they are "bully." What a bully idea (even if it is only a guess).

Words of the Week are written by Dr. Jacques A. Bailly.