bulldozer
BOOL-doh-zer
/ˈbʊlˌdoʊzər/
A heavy crawler-tracked tractor equipped with a broad horizontal front blade used for pushing earth, rocks, or debris.
Mainly pushes material forward across terrain rather than scooping or lifting it high into trucks.
The story behind the word. In late 19th-century American slang, a 'bull-dose' was a severe lash or beating ('a dose fit for a bull'). By the 1920s, the term was applied to heavy earth-pushing tractors that forcefully pushed through obstacles like an unstoppable force.
Word relationships
- dozer: 'Dozer' is standard industry shorthand for a bulldozer.
- crawler tractor: 'Crawler tractor' describes the mechanical base (tracks and chassis) without specifying the blade.
Commonly confused with
- excavator: A bulldozer pushes dirt horizontally with a front blade; an excavator digs down or reaches up with a bucket arm.
Word family
- bulldoze (verb): To clear or flatten land using a bulldozer, or to force one's way aggressively.
Collocations
- armored bulldozer
- operate a bulldozer
- bulldozer blade
- heavy bulldozer
Idioms & expressions
- bulldozer diplomacy (aggressive negotiation tactics)
Example sentences
- "The heavy contractor used a massive bulldozer to flatten the uneven ground before pouring concrete foundations." Site Preparation
- "A armored bulldozer cleared a path through the storm debris so emergency vehicles could access the neighborhood." Disaster Clearing
Memory hook
A BULL pushing with its heavy head: a BULL-dozer forcefully pushes heavy ground aside. Pushes through obstacles like an angry BULL.
When not to use
Do not confuse with excavators or cranes, which lift and dig deep rather than push surface material.
Fun facts
- Early bulldozers in the 1920s were simply farm tractors modified with metal blades attached to the front.
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