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

/ ˈbuːliː /

noun

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

boule

³

/ buːl /

noun

1. a round loaf of white bread

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

C19: from Greek boulē senate

Origin of boule³

C20: from French: a ball

Example Sentences

Creative director Ian Griffiths’ mood board included silken teddies, Belle Epoque’-inspired boule coats and photos of the French novelist Colette, whose spare style, the British designer said, inspired the collection’s simplicity.

From Seattle Times

Saturday morning, after a breakfast of baked eggs and Danishes at the visitor center, where classes were held, Ms. Piper laid out the curriculum, including making a wheat loaf and a sourdough boule.

From New York Times

I've been hurt by starters that would never become sufficiently foamy, by doughs that sullenly refused to rise, by boules that baked into oversized hockey pucks.

From Salon

Pépin is a member of a spirited boules club that plays weekends from June to September and consists of about 40 players.

From Washington Post

You get points for having more boules close to the cochonnet than your opponent, and whoever has the most points after three rounds wins.

From The Verge