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Stage 1 of 5
bulla
Latin · ancient
"a round seal, knob"
a word for a round seal or knob attached to official documents
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Stage 2 of 5
bulletta
Italian · medieval
"a document, voting slip"
a diminutive naming the sealed document itself
3
Stage 3 of 5
bulletino
Italian · medieval
"a small official document"
a further diminutive for an official notice
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Stage 4 of 5
bulletin
French · 1500s
"an official report or notice"
modeled on the Italian form for an authenticated public report
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Stage 5 of 5
bulletin
English · 1765
"an official report issued for public information"
adopted for an official announcement, later popularized by Napoleonic-era military dispatches
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