Where does “bullwhack” come from?

bullwhack (English) comes from English whack, from Malay hentam, from Classical Malay هنتم.

bullwhack (English): To work as a bullwhacker, driving a bullock team

Definitions

  1. To work as a bullwhacker, driving a bullock team

Ancestry of “bullwhack”, step by step

bullwhack traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English whack

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwhackThe sound of a heavy strike; The strike itself;...
2Malayhentamto hit hard
3Classical Malayهنتم—

via English Bull

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBullThe constellation and zodiacal sign Taurus
2Middle Englishbullfalsehood
Every word from Classical Malay هنتم →
bullwhack — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer