To intimidate. Hence Bulldozer.
1842. Mr. Stanly of N. Carolina said that Mr. Whitney had not been “dogged” to the door of the committee-room, but, when inside, he had been “bull-dogged” with a vengeance.—House of Representatives, April 28: Congressional Globe, p. 457. (See also p. 478.)
1876. There was a bad case of “bulldozing” in Cincinnati on Monday night.—N.Y. Tribune, Dec. (Bartlett).
1877. The Russian fleet is not engaged in a bulldozing mission in American waters.—Providence Journal, Jan. 31 (Bartlett).
1877. If [Mr. Hayes] has strength of character and tact, the bull-dozers cannot subdue him.—N.Y. Herald, March 7 (Bartlett).
1882. [He says that] the counsel for the defense are cursing Buell roundly for allowing the Court to “bulldoze him,” as they put it.—Washington Critic, Aug. 7 (Star-Route cases).
1882. Promise of office, and the Bulldozing of jurors and witnesses by men in high position.—Id., Sept. 8.
1888. See here! I’m not to be bull-dozed by you. I know my business.—St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 7 (Farmer).
1889. On fatigue duty they were useless at first, and the old soldiers made their lot an unhappy one; but by dint of bulldozing and an abundance of hard service, most of them got their fine sentimental notions pretty well knocked out before they had been many weeks in camp.—J. D. Billings, ‘Hardtack and Coffee,’ p. 206–7 (Boston).
