bulla

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈbʊl.la], [ˈbʊl.laː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbul.la], [ˈbul.la]^[1]

Forms

bulla f (genitive bullae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.^[1] The OLD compares Lithuanian bulìs (“buttocks”) and Ancient Greek βομβυλίς (bombulís), and Köbler a root Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blow, swell”).^[2][3] Wiktionary also mentions a Gaulish source and an ultimately imitative origin.^[1] The TLL connects it with bullīre “to bubble”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler gives Plautus first,^[3] who has a character ask whether studs were ordered for the doors.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It was a bubble, and figuratively a thing of nothing.^[2][5] From its rounded shape it named a boss, knob or stud, especially as an ornament on doors, and the golden locket with an amulet that Roman children wore round the neck.^[2][1]

In medieval Latin it was a gold or silver button, a seal of gold or lead, and a papal document sealed with one, a bull.^[6][1] English bull “papal edict” and English bill “written statement” come from the medieval sense, and through Old French boule English bowl “ball”.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of studs on doors and of a child's locket.^[2][3]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of a bubble.^[2][3]
• Middle Ages – It is used of a seal and of a papal bull.^[6]
• late 14th century – English bill “formal document” is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A bubble.^[2]
2. A boss, knob, stud.^[2]
3. A locket with an amulet, worn by children.^[2][1]
4. (Medieval Latin) A seal; a papal bull.^[6][1]

Word family

• bullātus
• bullō
• bullula
• bullescō
• bulliō

Related words

• English bull
• English bill
• English bowl
• English bulletin

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com