bluff-chargev.
/ˈblʌftʃɑːdʒ/, U.S. /ˈbləfˌtʃɑrdʒ/ 1. intransitive. Of a large animal: to move aggressively toward a potential threat or prey, then abruptly stop without attacking; to perform a bluff charge.
ΚΠ
1977 World's Cats III. iii. 27 Whenever I enter the room, particularly at feeding time, he bluff-charges while hissing and growling.
1991 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (Electronic ed.) 1 Sept. 1 b In many cases the mother [bear] keeps running, stops nearby and waits or just bluff-charges.
2011 J. Vaillant Tiger (new ed.) i. 151 Tigers will bluff-charge the same way bears do and, in most cases, all the tiger wants is an indication of submission.
2. transitive. Of a large animal: to move aggressively toward (a potential threat or prey), then abruptly stop without attacking.
ΚΠ
1980 Field & Stream Nov. 128/2 Black bears..have taken to bluff-charging backpackers in order to intimidate them into throwing down their food-laden packs.
1994 Petersen's Photogr. (Electronic ed.) Nov. 28 Moose and elk frequently bluff-charge photographers who come too close.
2001 J. Waterman Arctic Crossing i. 99 I have been ‘bluff-charged’ twice, effectively tested to see if I'll run like prey.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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v.1977