bulllike

bulllike is an English adjective formed from the noun bull and the suffix -like. It denotes something that resembles a bull in form or temperament. The term can describe physical traits such as a stocky frame or a muscular neck, as well as behavioral traits associated with bulls, such as stubbornness, aggression, or bullish assertiveness. It is mainly used in descriptive writing, zoological or anatomical contexts, and literature. It should not be confused with bullish, which carries a separate financial or optimistic meaning.

Orthography and usage: The term may appear as bulllike (a closed form with three consecutive l’s) or as bull-like (hyphenated) to avoid awkward letter clusters. Some writers also use the two-word form bull like, though this is less common. When used before a noun, hyphenation is typically advised: bull-like musculature; when used as a predicate adjective, either hyphenated or open forms may be found depending on house style.

Etymology: The word is a straightforward compound of bull and like, with the productive English suffix -like forming adjectives of resemblance.

See also: bullish; bovine; bullheaded; animal morphology.