From darling to “fine fellow”
When bully entered English in the 1500s, it could mean a sweetheart or darling. It was an affectionate form of address, not a label for someone who frightened others. The word is generally traced to Dutch boel, meaning a lover or sweetheart, though the route into English is not completely certain.
Over time, bully widened beyond romance. It could be used warmly for a friend or companion, and later for a man regarded as a “fine fellow.” That shift matters: words of praise can change when they attach to a particular kind of person or behavior.
How praise turned into menace
By the 17th century, bully was also being used for a swaggering, quarrelsome man. The word’s tone had turned ironic or disapproving: the person who might once have been called a bold “fellow” could now be seen as a blusterer who threw his weight around. From there, the sense of a person who intimidates or mistreats others took hold.
The transition was gradual, not a single moment when “sweetheart” suddenly became “tormentor.” A term that could signal affection or admiration acquired a sharper edge as it became associated with aggressive behavior. The same word that once conveyed closeness eventually came to name the threat of force.
