boule French · revision 15947

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1175, Roman de Renart|origins=la bulla}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bul/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''boule''' ''f'' (plural boules)^(Wiktionary)

+ [[fro|bole]] (about 1175); ''boule'' from 1330–1332.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|bole]], [[inh|la|bulla|t=bubble; knob, round object]],^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|1, 607b) taken by word of mouth, while the learned [[bulle]] was borrowed later.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) Rey calls “bulla” an expressive word suggesting a round shape, perhaps of imitative origin.^(DHLF 1992) Wiktionary also mentions [[frk|*bollā|t=ball, bowl]], which would make it a doublet of [[bol]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[pro|bola]], [[ca|bola]], [[es|bola]], [[pt|bola]] and [[ro|bulă]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873) [[en|boule]] is borrowed from French.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Roman de Renart'' (about 1175) has ''bole'' in the sense “club, cudgel”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The idea of a round knob, as in “club” and the ''boule'' of a seal (1294, later [[bulle]]), was lost before the 16th century, Old French also had ''mie une bole'' “not the least thing” (1258).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) The general sense “sphere, round object” (1330–1332) now covers the whole word.^(DHLF 1992) From Old French on it named the ball used in games, whence ''les boules'' (fashionable in the 17th century) and ''la boule lyonnaise'', of which ''pétanque'' is a southern variety, ''la boule'' was also a game of chance like roulette (1763).^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) ''Boules blanches, noires'' were used in voting.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ As a familiar word for the head (1798) it gave ''perdre la boule'' (1819) and ''coup de boule'' (1892).^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) Other phrases include ''boule de neige'', ''boule puante'' (1890) and ''mystère et boule de gomme'', ''avoir les boules'' (about 1980) arose in schoolchildren's slang.^(DHLF 1992) In Quebec ''boule'' is used where France says ''balle'', and in Africa it is a ball of starchy paste eaten with sauce.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1175 – ''Bole'' “club” in the ''Roman de Renart''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1258 – ''Mie une bole'' “not a jot”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1294 – The ''boule'' of a seal.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1330–1332 – ''Boule'' “sphere”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1347 – ''Boulet''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1557 – ''Bouleverser''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1763 – A game of chance.^(BHVF)

+ * 1798 – “Head”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1819 – ''Perdre la boule''.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|ball]], sphere: ''boule de neige'', ''boule de cristal'', ''se mettre en boule'': to curl up.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # A bowl, ''(plural)'' bowls, boules, pétanque: ''jouer aux boules''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A scoop (of ice cream).^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(familiar)'' The head: ''perdre la boule'': to go mad, ''coup de boule'': headbutt.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Avoir les boules'': to be fed up; to be scared.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Boule de gomme'': gumdrop, ''mystère et boule de gomme'': it's a mystery.^(Le Robert)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(Belgium)'' A boiled sweet.^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[boulette]]

+ * [[bouleverser]]

+ * [[bouliste]]

+ * [[bouler]]

+ * [[boulet]]

+ * [[boulon]]

+ * [[abouler]]

+ * [[bouleversement]]

+ * [[débouler]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bulle]]

+ * [[bouillir]]

+ * [[la|bulla]]

+ * [[en|boule]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Two minor homographs: ''boule'' (masculine), the marquetry of the cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle (1642–1732), from his name;^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) and slang ''boule'' “backside”, borrowed from Romani ''bul''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}