bullfinch
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A hunting term for a large, thick, quickset hedge, difficult alike to "top" or burst through. Probably a corruption of BULL-FENCE, a fence made to prevent cattle straying either in or out.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bullfinch” mean?
A hunting term for a large, thick, quickset hedge, difficult alike to "top" or burst through. Probably a corruption of BULL-FENCE, a fence made to prevent cattle straying either in or out.
Is “bullfinch” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.