bulldoze
UK: ˈbʊldəʊz | US: ˈbʊldoʊz
vt. 1. To clear, level, or flatten (land) with a bulldozer.
vt. 2. To force or intimidate someone into doing something; coerce.
bulldoze = bull<forceful> + doze<push>
- bull: From Old English bula (male bovine), later associated with strength or aggression. In bulldoze, it implies forceful action.
- doze: Likely derived from dialectal dose (to push or strike), influenced by doze (to sleep lightly), though the connection is unclear. Combined, it suggests "pushing forcefully."
Etymology Origin:
The word bulldoze emerged in the 19th century, originally referring to the use of a heavy blade (later mechanized as the bulldozer) to clear land. The bull- element evokes brute force, while -doze may reflect the physical act of pushing obstacles aside. By the 1880s, it gained a figurative sense of coercion, mirroring the machine's relentless action.
The crew will bulldoze the old building to make space for the park.
He tried to bulldoze his way through the crowd.
The dictator bulldozed opposition with harsh laws.
Developers bulldozed the forest, sparking protests.
Don’t let them bulldoze you into signing the contract.