John Bull

noun

1. England; the English people.
2. the typical Englishman.

John Bull

noun

1. a personification of England or the English people
2. a typical Englishman

John Bull

1. A figure who stands for England in literary and political satire and in cartoons. John Bull is a stout, feisty man, often shown in a suit made out of the British flag.

Notes

John Bull is the British equivalent of the United States' symbol (see also symbol ) Uncle Sam .

Derived Forms

• John Bullish, adjective
• John Bullishness, noun
• John Bullism, noun

Other Words From

• John Bullish adjective
• John Bullishness noun
• John Bullism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of John Bull¹

1705–15; named after John Bull, chief character in Arbuthnot's allegory The History of John Bull (1712)

Word History and Origins

Origin of John Bull¹

C18: name of a character intended to be representative of the English nation in The History of John Bull (1712) by John Arbuthnot

Example Sentences

John Bull, president of Eagle Industries, told the Detroit Free Press that any layoffs would affect around 60 workers and were “100%” because of the strike.

From Washington Times

Brad Perritt, the warden at Tabor Correctional Institution in Columbus County, died Dec. 15, while associate warden Julian Priest died on Dec. 24, according to John Bull, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety.

From Washington Times

State Department of Public Safety spokesman John Bull said that a pilot program in several North Carolina prisons began last year.

From Washington Times

By the time the moratorium was lifted in May, about 1,800 people were in county jails awaiting transfer to state prisons, said John Bull, a spokesman for North Carolina’s Department of Public Safety.

From Seattle Times

The offenders testing positive aren’t showing symptoms, Department of Public Safety spokesperson John Bull wrote in an email.

From Washington Times