Bullock

Bullock is a term with several related meanings in English. In everyday agricultural use, a bullock is a young male bovine, typically a castrated animal that has been trained for work. In the Indian subcontinent and parts of Asia and Africa, bullocks are commonly used as draught animals for plowing fields, pulling carts, and powering threshing equipment. In other contexts, the term ox is often used for a trained, castrated work animal, though regional usage can vary and bullock may be used to refer to a young bull as well.

The word derives from Old English bulluc, a diminutive form of bull meaning a young bull. Over time, in agricultural usage, it came to denote a castrated, work-ready animal. The precise sense of bullock can vary by dialect and farming practice, with some regions stressing the castration and labor role and others emphasizing age or gender as the defining feature.

Beyond its animal meanings, Bullock is a surname. It appears in English-speaking countries and is borne by notable individuals, including the American actress Sandra Bullock. The surname likely originated as a nickname for someone who tended bullocks or as a place-based name linked to a location associated with bulls.