#28: Bully — A Word That Used to Mean Sweetheart and Friend

Discover how 'bully' transformed from a compliment to an insult. Tracing its roots to Middle Dutch 'boel' and Middle Low German 'bule'—meaning brother, friend, or lover—this episode explores why a word once used admiringly became synonymous with aggression and meanness.---More from Sticky Note Podcasts:Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)stickynotepodcasts.com

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 13, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

Ready to play

#28: Bully — A Word That Used to Mean Sweetheart and Friend

0:00 1:38

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Why of Words?

This episode is 1 minute long.

When was this The Why of Words episode published?

This episode was published on May 13, 2026.

Can I download this The Why of Words episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!