boule

¹

[ bool ]

noun

1. a round loaf of bread, usually with a crisp or chewy crust: Compare baguette ( def 1 ), batard ( def ).

   Divide the dough into two portions, shape into batards or boules, and place in the refrigerator to rise overnight.

2. Also called birne. a cylindrical lump of material for synthetic gems, made by the Verneuil process.
3. a metal ball, usually made out of steel, used in pétanque.
4. Sometimes boules. pétanque.

boule

²

[ bool ]

noun

, (often initial capital letter)

1. buhl.

Boule

³

[ boo-lee, boo-ley ]

noun

1. the legislative assembly of modern Greece.
2. (sometimes lowercase) a state legislative, advisory, or administrative council in ancient Greece.

boule

¹

/ buːl /

noun

1. a pear-shaped imitation ruby, sapphire, etc, made from synthetic corundum

boule

²

/ buːl /

noun

1. a round loaf of white bread

boule

³

/ ˈbuːliː /

noun

1. the parliament in modern Greece
2. the senate of an ancient Greek city-state

Word History and Origins

Origin of boule¹

First recorded in 1915–20; from French: literally, “a ball”; bowl ²

Origin of boule²

1840–50; < Greek: a council, body of chosen ones

Word History and Origins

Origin of boule¹

C19: from French: ball

Origin of boule²

C20: from French: a ball

Origin of boule³

C19: from Greek boulē senate

Example Sentences

In making sourdough boules in the past, I had almost always stayed with the classics, occasionally branching out with a sesame or smoked paprika loaf.

From Eater

While I admire the gumption of home bread bakers to do just that, no, I am obviously not telling you to bake a boule as an easy or quick way to fill out your meal.

From Washington Post

She was also crudely nicknamed “La Boule” in a reference to the ball and chain.

From The Daily Beast

Everything changed as soon as her relations with Jupillon and her assiduous attendance at the Boule-Noire were known.

From Project Gutenberg

The bones from Denise (now rehabilitated in respect of their antiquity by Professor Boule) present similar features.

From Project Gutenberg

Boule claims one glaciation of Pliocene antiquity, followed by two Pleistocene glaciations.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon an examination of the controversial literature, the award here given is in favour of Professor Boule's scheme.

From Project Gutenberg

Such are the main considerations upon which the decision has been taken in favour of Professor Boule's chronological scale.

From Project Gutenberg