The word “hector” originally comes from the name of the Trojan prince in Homer’s “Iliad,” but it entered English in 17th-century London, when gangs of street ruffians called themselves “Hectors.” The modern usage of “hector” is far from the reputation of the Greek hero Hector, who was portrayed as brave, honorable, and loyal. It’s now used as a noun, referring to a bully, or more commonly as a verb, meaning “to act like a bully.” If someone is using intimidation to pressure someone or acting in an overly arrogant manner, that’s hectoring.