bucolic

Bucolic, a.

Etymology: [L. bucolicus, Gr. kal to drive: cf. F. bucolique. See Cow the animal.]

Of or pertaining to the life and occupation of a shepherd; pastoral; rustic.

1 other Webster entry under this spelling

Bucolic, n.

A pastoral poem, representing rural affairs, and the life, manners, and occupation of shepherds; as, the Bucolics of Theocritus and Virgil. Dryden.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for bucolic; he lists it under rustic.

Where he writes about it:

Bucolic is kindred to pastoral, but is a less elevated term, and sometimes slightly contemptuous. — from rustic