Bulle

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See also: bulle and bullé

English

[edit]

Proper noun

[edit]

Bulle

  1. A municipality, the capital of Gruyère district, Fribourg canton, Switzerland.
  2. A commune in Doubs department, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France.

German

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ˈbʊlə/
  • Audio (Berlin):(file)

Etymology 1

[edit]

Via German Low German from Middle Low German bulle. Cognate with Dutch bul. More at bull.

Noun

[edit]

Bulle m (weak, genitive Bullen, plural Bullen)

  1. bull (male cattle)
  2. (figurative) bull (strong or stout man)
Usage notes
[edit]
  • Though generally interchangeable with Stier, only Bulle is commonly used in agricultural contexts in northern and central Germany. The word is less frequent in the South.
Declension
[edit]
Synonyms
[edit]
Derived terms
[edit]

Etymology 2

[edit]

Documented since the 19th century. Probably from Polizist (or an abbreviation thereof), whose first syllable may in some dialects have become homophonous to Bulle (“bull”). Another possibility is a derivation from Puller or Landpuller, a non-derogatory term for a policeman of the 18th century.

Noun

[edit]

Bulle m (weak, genitive Bullen, plural Bullen)

  1. (mildly derogatory) police officer, cop, pig
Usage notes
[edit]
  • The word is only mildly pejorative in colloquial speech; it is nevertheless punishable in Germany to use it in the presence of a police officer on duty.
Declension
[edit]
Derived terms
[edit]

Etymology 3

[edit]

From Middle High German bulle, from Medieval Latin bulla (seal capsule, literally ball, bullet).

Noun

[edit]

Bulle f (genitive Bulle, plural Bullen)

  1. bull (papal decree)
Declension
[edit]

Further reading

[edit]

Saterland Frisian

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Old Frisian *bula, from Proto-Germanic *bulô. More at bull.

Noun

[edit]

Bulle m

  1. (zoology) bull; steer