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Glite Dictionary
bullwhacker

bullwhacker

9.9
A person who drives teams of oxen across the American West
  • noun
  • /ˈbʊlˌhwækər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : conductor de bueyes
  • The bullwhacker shouted instructions to his team as they pulled the heavy wagon up the hill.

Examples

  • As a skilled bullwhacker, he guided the oxen through the rough terrain of the wild frontier.

  • I signed him up as a bullwhacker on the train.

    The Big Trail (1930)

  • Oh, nothing an old bullwhacker like you would understand.

    Annie Oakley (1935)

  • And he ain't no bullwhacker.

    The Big Trail (1930)

  • Got a good bunch of bullwhackers, Flack.

    The Big Trail (1930)

  • Dangerous man, killer, bullwhacker.

    Hearts of the West (1975)

  • During the 19th century, a bullwhacker played a crucial role in transporting goods across the American West.

Synonyms

drover
vsbullwhacker
15 9.4

A person who moves cattle or sheep from one place to another

focuses on driving oxen teams for transport in the western frontier
teamer
vsbullwhacker
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who drives animals like horses to pull a wagon or plough

is specifically an oxen team driver in 19th century American West

Surface Forms

bullwhacker singular
bullwhackers plural

Morphology

bullwhacker = bull + whack (semi-transparent) = bull + whack + er

The components 'bull' + 'whack' + agent '-er' are recognizable, but the occupational/historical sense (driver of oxen using a whip) is specialized and not fully predictable for learners.

Etymology

Bullwhacker comes from the simple parts bull and whack, where whack means 'to hit' and bull refers to an ox. In the American West drivers used a whip to 'whack' or crack near the oxen to make them move, so a bullwhacker is a person who drove teams of oxen.