▪ I. bullish, a.1
(ˈbʊlɪʃ)
[f. bull n.1 + -ish1.]
1. Of or pertaining to a bull; resembling or having the nature of a bull.
| 1566 T. Nuce Seneca's Octavia (1581) 166 b, Cuckoldes bullysh badge. a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1752) 314 His bullish nature will be ploughed out in three years. 1830 Fraser's Mag. II. 610 They are bullish, they are unmanageable, vindictive and irreconcileable. |
2. Stock-Exchange, etc. Tending to or aiming at a rise in the price of stocks or of merchandise.
| 1882 Pall Mall G. 5 July 5/2 We want to..make prices higher that Paris may see how ‘bullish’ we are. 1884 Manch. Exam. 11 June 4/4 In this market..a great majority are ‘bullish’ about cotton. |
▪ II. † ˈbullish, a.2 nonce-wd.
[f. bull n.2 + -ish1.]
Of or pertaining to papal bulls.
| 1546 Bale Eng. Votaries ii. 36 Thys baudy bulle maker and hys other bullish begles. |
▪ III. † bullish, a.3 Obs. rare.
[f. bull n.4 + -ish1.]
Having the nature of a ‘bull’ or grotesque blunder; laughably erroneous.
| 1641 Milton Animadv. (1851) 191 A toothlesse Satyr is as improper as a toothed sleekstone, and as bullish. 1660 S. Fisher Rusticks Alarm Wks. (1679) 149 That Bullish Title of works but imperfectly good. |