Definition of "hector"
hector
noun
plural hectors
Sometimes in the form Hector: a blustering, noisy, turbulent fellow; a blusterer, bully.
Quotations
Luc[ia]. VVhat would you do you dowty Hectors? / Kick. Hectors! upon my honour, if we can find them out, we'll beat your Gallants for this. / […] Luc. Advant, you Hectors, we are not fit for you: […]
1672, Tho[mas] Shadwell, Epsom-Wells. A Comedy, Acted at the Duke’s Theatre, London: Printed for R. VVellington […], published 1704, act I, scene i, page 8
verb
third-person singular simple present hectors, present participle hectoring, simple past and past participle hectored
(transitive) To dominate or intimidate in a blustering way; to bully, to domineer.
Quotations
Theſe Nimrods (ſay they) grew great by the Strength of their Limbs and their Vices, engraved their Murthers upon their Shields, and Hectored all the Little and Peaceable People into Peaſantry.
1700, Jeremy Collier, “A Second Conference between Philotimus and Philalethes”, in Essays upon Several Moral Subjects, in Two Parts. , and H. Hindmarsh, page 55
It was a common thing for an honeſt Man, when he came Home at Night, to find another Fellow domineering in his Family, hectoring his Servants, calling for Supper, and pretending to go to Bed with his Wife.
1712, [John Arbuthnot], “Of Some Quarrels that Happen’d after Peg was Taken into the Family”, in John Bull Still in His Senses: Being the Third Part of Law is a Bottomless-pit. […], London: Printed for John Morphew, […], page 28
The complaint alleges that on or about February 5 and March 8, Respondent, by Mrs. Flynn, violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act by hectoring employees for seeking union representation.
1973, Decisions and Orders of the National Labor Relations Board (Law Books Recommended for Libraries, Labor Law; 134), volume 196, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, page 1024
(intransitive) To behave like a hector or bully; to bluster, to swagger; to bully.
Quotations
[…] I was ſent for by the marſhall, huffed and hectored ſtrangely, thretned, &c., in fine, muſte give bonds to the good behaviour; I refuſed, […]
1684 February 4, William Vaughan, “[Appendix.] XXXI. A Letter from William Vaughan, Esq. Containing a Journal of Transactions during His Imprisonment, &c. to Nathaniel Weare, Esq. Agent in London.”, in Jeremy Belknap, The History of New-Hampshire. […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Re-printed for the author, published 1792, page lix
I will be the sole judge of what I think is effective and of what I should do. I will stick by my judgment, and I will not be lectured or hectored by the hon. Gentleman or anyone else.
2000 November 7, Eric Forth, “Business of the House”, in Parliamentary Debates (Hansard): House of Commons Official Report, volume 141, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, archived from the original on 8 December 2018, page 249, column 248