bully (boy)

Hist.

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

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in the fur trade, a hired tough whose job it was to intimidate rival traders and to do the fighting for the brigade or post.

Quotations

1820

St. Picque one of the NW Bullies requested I would sell him a little rum and offered his wearing apparel in payment.

1855

. . . here [at Fort William] would the bullies of fighting renown, rendered yet braver by the potent draught, hold their annual exhibitions.

1922

Sir George told me to take a few of our "bullies" with me and give the misbehaving crews a good lesson. . . .

1956

At the head of the pedlar line was Bowman's bully boy. . . .