# bullock

/ˈbʊɫək/ (US) · /bˈʊlək/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bullock
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. a young bull

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Dialect

a young male cow that has not been castrated.

For teachers: a young, intact male bull. This usage is now largely archaic or restricted to specific regional dialects.

- In the old story, the hero sacrificed a young bullock to the gods.
- The historical text describes a bullock of two years, prized for its strength and potential as a breeding animal.

### 3. to bully

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to treat someone in a mean or aggressive way to make them do what you want.

For teachers: to behave in a bullying or overbearing manner toward others. This verbal use is rare and considered archaic in most modern contexts.

- He tried to bullock his way through the crowd to get to the front.
- The supervisor was known to bullock his subordinates into working overtime without additional compensation.

## Examples

- The farmer sold the bullock to the butcher.
- They kept the strongest bullock in the herd for breeding rather than selling it for meat.
- In traditional agricultural economies, the bullock served as both a source of labor during its youth and a reserve of protein for the community.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
