bulla

noun

bul·​la ˈbu̇-lə How to pronounce bulla (audio)
plural bullae ˈbu̇-ˌlē How to pronounce bulla (audio) -ˌlī How to pronounce bulla (audio)
1
[Medieval Latin] : the round usually lead seal attached to a papal bull
2
[New Latin, from Latin] : a hollow thin-walled rounded bony prominence
3
: a large vesicle or blister

Examples of bulla in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Over the centuries, the ash preserved the remains of the family, the wooden bed frame and other items, including a bronze amulet known as a bulla and a stash of amphorae filled with garum, a popular Roman fish sauce. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025 The Fisherman’s Ring and a pendant called the bulla traditionally served as official seals for official letters and documents known as papal briefs. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025 By convention, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, a senior cardinal appointed to oversee the transition, would destroy the ring and bulla in the presence of the College of Cardinals after announcing the pope’s passing. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025 The camerlengo is also responsible for destroying the Fisherman's Ring and the lead bulla, which serve as seals for papal documents, according to Encyclopedia Brittanica. James Powel, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025 So please, all the lefty-loosey and righty-tighty Venezuela zealots, spare us your bulla — and try using your noggins now. Tim Padgett, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2024 Officials confirmed his identification, describing the small artifact as a 250-year-old lead seal, or bulla, from a papal bull. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024 By extension, bulla came to refer to the official documents secured by such seals. Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2023 The word bill derives from bulla, which in medieval Latin referred to a seal on a document, such as wax stamped by a signet ring. Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulla was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Bulla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulla. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

bulla

noun
bul·​la ˈbu̇l-ə How to pronounce bulla (audio)
plural bullae ˈbu̇l-ˌē How to pronounce bulla (audio) -ˌī How to pronounce bulla (audio)
1
: a hollow thin-walled rounded bony prominence
2
: a large vesicle or blister compare bleb

More from Merriam-Webster on bulla

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