bull-bitch

[AidaGlass]

Hello,
Below is some part of Grapes of Wrath.

You want to know what I done time for, don't you?"
"That ain't none of my affair."
"Nothin' ain't none of your affair except skinnin' this here bull-bitch along, ...
Question: What does bull-bitch mean? Generally speaking, does it refer to a dog or a cow?

 

[suzi br]

What’s going on, what are they doing?

Although I’m not sure that the answers to these questions will help me to fathom this apparently paradoxical pairing. You probably need a native speaker to advise you.

 

[dojibear]

I haven't encountered the term "bull-bitch" before. But I googled "bull-bitch". Some online dictionaries say it is a female bulldog. That is probable the meaning in the story.

 

[AidaGlass]

What’s going on, what are they doing?

They're riding on a truck. The driver gave Joad (the hitch-hiker) a lift. Joad believes that the driver is a nosy guy trying to stick his nose into his personal life, and that whatever he says to the driver, the driver replies back 'that's non of my business, I mind my own business'.

 

[AidaGlass]

Some online dictionaries say it is a female bulldog.

Thanks. So, it refers to a kind of dog.

 

[RedwoodGrove]

If he's driving a truck it probably refers to the truck itself. Think of "mule skinner".