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boule²

(bl)

a. often boules (bl) Any of several related bowling games, such as bocce or pétanque, traditionally played on an outdoor court.

b. The ball used in one of these games.

2. A round loaf of bread.

3. A pear-shaped synthetic sapphire, ruby, or other alumina-based gem, produced by fusing and tinting alumina.

[French, ball, boule, from Old French, ball, from Latin bulla, rounded object, bubble.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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