bulldoze

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbʊldəʊz/ (UK); /ˈbʊldoʊz/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.^[2][3] It is usually explained as bull and an altered form of dose,^[4][5][2][6] from bulldose “a severe beating” (1876), a dose fit for a bull.^[6][4] Random House thinks this explanation is probably mistaken.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To intimidate by violence (1876, American English).^[2][5][6]

Semantic evolution

The word arose during the disorderly presidential election of 1876, when it was used of the beating and intimidation of black voters in the South.^[6][2][1] A bulldozer was at first a person who intimidated by violence (1876);^[2] the name passed to the ground-clearing machine in 1930.^[2] Senses about clearing land with such a machine (from 1942) were formed back from bulldozer.^[6][3] Figurative use, to force one's way ruthlessly, follows by 1948.^[6][5]

Timeline

• 1876 – bulldose, a severe beating.^[6]
• 1876 – verb, to intimidate by violence.^[2][5]
• 1930 – bulldozer, the machine.^[2]
• 1942 – to clear ground with a bulldozer.^[6]
• 1948 – figurative, to force through ruthlessly.^[6]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To clear, dig up, level or move with a bulldozer.
2. To coerce or intimidate, as with threats; to bully.
3. To force through or proceed insensitively or ruthlessly.
4. To demolish or do away with.

Related words

• bulldozer
• bull
• dose
• bullwhip

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
3. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
4. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com