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• boll
  boll

  noun

  a rounded seed vessel or pod of a plant, as of flax or cotton.
• Böll
  Böll

  noun

  Heinrich (Theodor) 1917–85, German novelist and short-story writer: Nobel Prize 1972.

boll

¹ American  

[bohl] / boʊl /

noun

Botany.

1. a rounded seed vessel or pod of a plant, as of flax or cotton.

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Böll ² American  

[bœl] / bœl /

noun

1. Heinrich (Theodor) 1917–85, German novelist and short-story writer: Nobel Prize 1972.

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Böll ¹ British  

/ bœl /

noun

1. Heinrich (ˈhaɪnrɪç) ( Theodor ). 1917–85, German novelist and short-story writer; his novels include Group Portrait with Lady (1971): Nobel prize for literature 1972

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boll ² British  

/ bəʊl /

noun

1. the fruit of such plants as flax and cotton, consisting of a rounded capsule containing the seeds

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boll Scientific  

/ bōl /

1. The seed-bearing capsule of certain plants, especially cotton and flax.

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Etymology

Origin of boll

1400–50; late Middle English bolle, perhaps < Middle Dutch bolle ( Dutch bol ), though formally identical with bowl ¹

Example Sentences

She died at her home in New York at age 87, her publicist Harlan Boll told the BBC.

From BBC • May 30, 2025

A Los Angeles native, Chamberlain died Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii, of complications from a stroke, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2025

His spokesman, Harlan Boll, said the cause was a sepsis infection.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2023

Mr. Osthoff and another New Jersey veteran named Michael Boll alleged Mr. Santos closed the GoFundMe set up for Sapphire once it raised $3,000 on social media, which suddenly disappeared.

From Washington Times • Jan. 18, 2023

During life the color is perpetually restored by darkness, but after death, Boll thought, it disappeared entirely.

From The Galaxy, April, 1877 Vol. XXIII.—April, 1877.—No. 4. by Various