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Where does the word "bullet" come from? It comes from Latin bulla, passing through French before entering English (1550s).
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Where does the word "bullet" come from? It comes from Latin bulla, passing through French before entering English (1550s).
Bullet’s story begins in Latin: bulla meant “bubble, knob.” The root of 'bubble' and 'bullion'. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as boulette. A diminutive of 'boule', ball. It reached English by 1550s as bullet. 'bullet points' date from the 1980s. Today, bullet means a projectile fired from a gun.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient bulla "bubble, knob", the root of 'bubble' and 'bullion'.
- Stage 2 · French · 1500s boulette "small ball", a diminutive of 'boule', ball.
- Stage 3 · English · 1550s bullet "small ball", 'bullet points' date from the 1980s.