bulldozer
(ˈbʊldəʊzə(r))
orig. U.S. Also bull-doser, bull-dozer.
[f. bull-dose, -doze v.]
1. a. One who ‘bull-dozes’. b. A large pistol.
| 1876 in Congress. Rec. (1877) 9 Jan. 500/1 A band of bulldozers came into Saint Francisville. 1878 N. Amer. Rev. CXXVII. 426 The great ‘Bulldozer’ of Europe. 1881 Sat. Rev. 9 July 40/2 A Californian bull-doser is a pistol which carries a bullet heavy enough to destroy human life with certainty. 1882 New York Tribune 3 May, The hotel where he was staying was visited..by a mob of bull-dozers. 1899 M. Kingsley Let. 19 Mar. in S. Gwynn Life of M. K. (1933) 210 They leave that to the bulldozers, and the present system mistakes these bulldozers for representative men. |
2. A heavy caterpillar tractor fitted with a broad steel blade in front, used for removing obstacles, levelling uneven surfaces, etc.
| 1930 Water Works & Sewerage (U.S.) June 262/3 The bulldozer is built for heavy duty. 1941 N. & Q. CLXXXI. 119/1 If they can bring in American machinery, why can't they bring in bull-dozers? 1942 Times 9 Oct. 2/2 There are..machines for levelling—motor-propelled scrapers—tractors, dumpers, angle-dozers and bull-dozers. |
b. fig. (Also attrib.)
| 1945 R. J. Oakes in Coast to Coast 1944 100 The fourth man was a gunner, a bulldozer of a man. 1952 Sat. Rev. 9 Aug. 12 The bulldozer determination with which he plowed through confused happenings. 1955 Times 21 June 9/4 Such spotters can..obtain ‘bulldozer’ rights for a patrol on a hot scent to pass through the areas of other units without being shot in error. 1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 20 Feb. 102/1 The bulldozer detective tactics of Inspector Evans. |