[prob. in most cases = BULL sb.1; but bull-weed has the alternative form boll-weed, see BOLL sb.1, which may be the etymon in some of the words. (The suggestion that bull- in some plant names may be a corruption of pool, is quite baseless.)]
A prefix occurring in certain names of plants, as bull-brier (American), see quot.; bull-oak (see quot.); bull-plum, a sloe (Prunus spinosa), cf. however BULLACE; bull-sedge (see quot.); bull-weed, Centaurea nigra, = Boll-weed; bull-wort, Ammi majus, also called Bishop-weed.
1860. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., *Bull Briar, a large briar … the root of which contains a farinaceous substance from which the Indians make bread.
1830. J. G. Strutt, Sylva Brit., 22. *Bull-Oaks … are thus denominated from the … circumstance of bulls taking shelter within them; which they effect … by retreating backwards into the cavity.
1770. Foote, Lame Lover, III. (D.). A plum-tree indeed, but not … a damascen plum; our proofs say loudly a *bull plum.
1879. Prior, Plant-names, *Bull-segg or sedge, the reed-mace.
a. 1450. Alphita. (Anecd. Oxon), 83. Iacea nigra … Bulwed uel hardaw.
1597. Gerard, Herbal, ccxcix. § 1. 703. Harts ease is named … in English, Knapweede, *Bull weede.
1598. Florio, Ammi. the … herbe William, bulwoort or bishops weede.
