[f. BEAR sb.1]
intr. To act the part of a ‘bear’ on the Stock Exchange; to speculate for a fall. trans. To produce a fall in the price of (any stocks, shares, or commodities liable to speculation).
a. 1842. W. Maginn, Pict. Grave & Gay (1859), 286. His stories being … lies … I should have been sorry to have bulled or beared in Spanish on the strength of them.
1881. Chicago Times, 4 June. If we succeed in bulling silver we shall also succeed in bearing gold to the same extent.
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 March, 5/2. Mr. Gladstone’s speech on Egypt ‘beared’ Egyptian stock yesterday as usual.
