Bullroarers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Flat pieces of wood or metal swung on a cord to produce a loud roaring sound ; boisterous, swaggering people who bluster and brag loudly
2. Noisy wooden or metal devices whirled on a string to make a roaring whirr ; loud, bragging men who bully and bluster
3. Flat blades whirled at the end of a cord to create a roar ; rowdy braggarts who loudly bluster and throw their weight around

Etymology: Bullroarers are flat, weighted pieces of wood or stone tied to a cord, which are swung in a circle to produce a deep, droning roar. The name is a plain compound: "bull" in the sense of something large and powerful, joined to "roarer," someone or something that roars. The noun "roarer" itself comes from the verb "roar," so the whole word describes a thing that makes a bull-like bellow. The plural "bullroarers" is simply the form that names more than one such object. Its parts are the same as the singular, so nothing about the word's history changes with the ending.