bulla

bulla, ae, f. [root vhal-; Gr. φαλ-; cf. φαλλός, φύλλον], any object swelling up, and thus becoming round; hence,

• I A water-bubble, bubble: ut pluvio perlucida caelo Surgere bulla solet, Ov. M. 10, 734: crassior, Mart. 8, 33, 18; Plin. 31, 2, 8, § 12; Ap. Met. 4, 6, 11.—Hence,
• • B Trop., a bubble, trifle; vanity: si est homo bulla, eo magis senex, Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 1; Petr. 42, 4.—
• II Any thing rounded by art.
• • A A boss, knob (upon a door, etc.): jussine in splendorem dari bullas has foribus nostris? Plaut. As. 2, 4, 20 (426): bullas aureas ex valvis, auferre, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 56, § 124 (by such door-studs fortunate or unfortunate days were designated, Petr. 30, 4).—
  • B A stud in a girdle: notis fulserunt cingula bullis Pallantis pueri, Verg. A. 12, 942; 9, 359; Aus. Cup. Cruc. 49; Prud. Psych. 476.—
  • C The head of a pin in the water-clock, Vitr. 9, 6, 9 sq.—
• III Esp., the bulla, a kind of amulet worn upon the neck (mostly of gold), orig. an ornament of the Roman triumphers, in imitation of the Tuscan kings and Lucumones (Plut. Romul. 25; Fest. s. v. sardi, p. 252), but in the more brilliant era of the Romans worn by noble youths, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 58, § 152 (cf. Ascon. in h. l., acc. to whom bullae of leather were hung upon the necks of the children of freedmen); it was laid aside when they arrived at maturity, and consecrated to the Lares, Pers. 5, 30; cf.: Lares bullati, Petr. 60, 8; acc. to Plin. 33, 1, 4, § 10, first hung by Tarquinius Priscus upon the neck of his son; cf. also Macr. S. 1, 6, 9 sqq.; Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 127 (1171); Liv. 26, 36, 5; Prop. 4 (5), 1, 131; Suet. Caes. 84; Flor. 2, 6, 24.—From the Etruscan custom, called Etruscum aurum, Juv. 5, 163.—Hence the phrase bullā dignus for childish: senior bullā dignissime, Juv. 13, 33.—It was also hung upon the forehead of favorite animals, Ov. M. 10, 114.

bulla, ae, f. (bullio), die hohle Aufschwellung od. Aufwallung, die Blase, I) eig., die Wasserblase, spumosae aquarum bullae, Eccl.: fons plurimis bullis stellans, Plin.: ut pluvio perlucida caelo surgere bulla solet, Ov. – bildl., v. Vergänglichem, homo est b., Varr. r.r. 1, 1, 1: non pluris sumus quam b., Petr. 42, 4. – II) übtr.: A) der Buckel, der Knopf, a) an Gürteln, aurea bullis cingula, Verg. Aen. 9, 359; u. so ibid. 12, 942. – b) an Türen, iussin in splendorem dari bullas has foribus nostris? Plaut. asin. 426: bullas aureas omnes ex his valvis non dubitavit auferre, Cic. Verr. 4, 124: durch dergl. glückliche u. unglückliche Tage bezeichnet, s. Petr. 30, 4. – c) ein mit einem Stift versehener Knopf als Weiser (l'indice) an der Sonnenuhr, Vitr. 9, 8 (6 od. 9). § 9 sq. – B) bulla aurea, die (nach Fest. p. 322 in v. Sardi) urspr. von den etruskischen Königen u. Lukumonen u. deren Söhnen getragene (dah. Iuven. 5, 164 aurum Etruscum gen.) u. mit der Toga prätexta nach Rom verpflanzte goldene Kapsel, goldene Bulla, die als Amulett (dah. mit magischen Mitteln gegen Faszination versehen) von den Triumphatoren u. von Knaben guter Herkunft (urspr. der patricii, dann übh. der ingenui) um den Hals auf die Brust herabhängend getragen wurde, s. Plin. 33, 10. Macr. sat. 1, 6. § 9 sqq. Plaut. rud. 1171. Liv. 26, 36, 5. Suet. Caes. 84, 4. Flor. 2, 6, 24. Cic. II. Verr. 1, 152 (dazu Ascon., nach dem die Kinder der Libertinen nur eine bulla scortea tragen durften). – Zur Zeit der Mündigkeit wurde zugleich mit der Toga prätexta auch die bulla abgelegt und den Laren geweiht, Pers. 5, 31 (weshalb lares bullati, Petr. 60, 8): dah. dignus bullā, = kindisch, Iuven. 13, 33. – bulla argentea, aus Tändelei auch einem Lieblingshirsche angehängt, Ov. met. 10, 114.

1 bulla [CL] 1 bubble. altius exurgens bulla resultat aquis Neckam DS IV 487; aut in aqua motum lucida bulla facit Garl. Tri. Eccl. 31. 2 kind of plant, (?) mullein (cf. 2 bullio). flecteria, ~a idem, G. bayloun[v. l. beyllun] Alph. 65. 3 stud, knob, boss. pulchrior auratis, dum fulget fibula, bullis Aldh. Aen. 100. 25; †bollas, ornamenta cinguli GlC B 169; 9‥ ~as, ornamenta cinguli, forpgegyrdu WW; stat super auratis virgae fabricatio bullis Wulf. Swith. prol. 183 (cf. ib. I 1268); a button, fibula, nodulus, ~a; ‥ a knoppe of a scho, ~a, CathA. 4 round metal seal (esp. papal). b dist. as golden or leaden. ~a, sigl GlC B 197; sigillum vel ~a, insegel Ælf. Gl.; Romani a tempore B. Gregorii ~as fuisse testati sunt et adhuc in Romana ecclesia aliqua ipsius privilegia bullata servari H. Cantor 28; extrahens de scrinio suo septem scripta apostolica cum ~is pendentibus Brakelond 136; s1229 ex una parte ~e imperialis imago regia, ‥ ex alia parte ~e insculpitur quedam civitas, sc. Roma; ‥ erat autem ~a aliquantulum major ~a pape M. Par. Maj. III 176; 1247 juramenturn secundum formam quam vobis sub ~a nostra mittimus interclusam Mon. Hib. & Scot. 47; in curiis prelatorum et principum una littera parvi valoris transit per plures manus antequam ~am recipiat aut sigillum Bacon Tert. 57; predictorum errorum quamplurimi ‥ ad diversas mundi plagas sub ~a sunt transmissi Ockham I. & P. 3; istis firma datur Rome rota juris ibidem; / bullis signatur (Vers.) Elmh. Cant. 92.  b s1178 Willelmus rex Sicilie fieri fecit chartam Johanne regine uxori sue de dote sua sub ~a aurea Trevet 89; 1213 universitati vestre per hanc cartam aurea ~a nostra munitam volumus esse notum quod ‥ (Ch. Regis) RChart 195a; ex quibus patet ~am non incongrue plumbeam nostro apostolo competere Augustino Elmh. Cant. 122; 1445 veris ~is plumbeis more Romane curie impendentibus Conc. Scot. I civ (cf. Reg. Aberd. II 88). 5 bull, instrument under papal seal. b (w. dimidia) instrument under half-seal used by Pope before coronation. c instrument under imperial seal. s1176 respondit R. Ebor. archiepiscopus quod episcopi Scotie subjectionem fecerant metropolitane ecclesie Eboraci ‥ et super hoc ostendit ~as G. Hen. II I 111 (cf. R. Howd. II 92: super hoc privilegia Romanorum pontificum ‥ premonstravit); notario meo, qui ~am cujus auctoritate litteras citationis ‥ impetrare debuit amiserat Gir. Symb. 1 p. 213; 1232 instrumentum quod dominus episcopus Wigorn’ ostendit contra nos, sc. ~am quandam per quam nos implacitavit Ann. Tewk. 89; s1243 imperator ‥ posuit ‥ per mare galeas, ne ~arum portitores transmearent M. Par. Maj. IV 256; 1260 si qui ‥ cum ~is papalibus nobis aut regno nostro prejudicialibus applicuerint in portu vestro, ‥ ipsos cum litteris illis ibi arestari faciatis Cl 181; 1376 si caput ecclesie hodie concedit michi aliquid non cameraliter sed manifeste per ~as patulas Wycl. Civ. Dom. 387 (cf. EHR XXXV 566); tardantur bulle schismate stante diu Elmh. Metr. Hen. V 760; 1427 duos quaternos de copiis ~arum MunAcOx 285; 1534 episcopus Romanus qui in suis ~is pape nomen usurpat (Ackn. of royal supremacy) Cart. Glam. 1878.  b 1294 [Papa Bonefacius] ordinavit quod xxij die ejusdem mensis deberet ‥ coronari et sacrari, ante quod tempus nulla ~a per ipsum exivit a curia, quia statuit quod de cetero nulla ~a dimidia exeat a curia Reg. Carl. I 31 (cf. Foed. II 427: 1289 cum sedes apostolica, ante consecrationem ‥ electi in summum pontificem, cum defectiva ~a electi nomen nullatenus exprimente bullare litteras suas consuevit ab antiquo).  c s1193 a regis cancellario ‥ , qui literas domini regis et ~am auream imperatoris secum detulit Wend. I 224.

2 bulla v. 2 billa(4)

bulla, (12) æ, f. , ¶ 1 bulle dʼeau : Plin. 31, 12 || [fig.] = un rien : Varro R. 1, 1, 1 ; Petr. 42, 4 ¶ 2 tête de clou pour lʼornement des portes : Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 124 ¶ 3 bouton de baudrier : Virg. En. 12, 942 ¶ 4 clou qui sert à marquer les jours heureux ou malheureux : Petr. 30, 4 ¶ 5 bouton ou bille mobile dans une horloge à eau : Vitr. Arch. 9, 8, 9 ¶ 6 bulle [petite boule dʼor, que les jeunes nobles portaient au cou jusquʼà lʼâge de dix-sept ans] ; cf. P. Fest. 36 ; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 152 et Ps. Ascon. Verr.  ; bulla senior dignissimus Juv. 13, 33, vieillard bien digne de porter la bulle [aussi simple quʼun enfant] ¶ 7 bulle que les triomphateurs portaient sur leur poitrine après y avoir renfermé des préservatifs contre lʼenvie : Macr. Sat. 1, 6, 8, sqq. ¶ 8 bulle suspendue au cou dʼanimaux favoris : Ov. M. 10, 114.

bulla , ae. f.
水泡。貴孩之金牌。武带中金牌。Homo est bulla 人如水泡然。Ille est bulla dignus 可带金牌。有孩氣。

Suggest a Translation
See an image

bulla ae, f

• a water-bubble, bubble: perlucida, O.—A boss, knob (upon a door): bullae aureae.— A stud (in a girdle): notis fulserunt cingula bullis, V.—An amulet worn upon the neck by boys of free birth (mostly of gold): sine bullā venerat: filio bullam relinquere, L.—Orig. an Etruscan custom; hence, Etruscum aurum, Iu.: bullā dignissime, i. e. childish, Iu.—On the forehead of a pet stag, O.

BULLA

BULLAa water bubble, and, from the resemblance in form, a boss, sometimes of ivory, but usually of metal, employed, like the λοι of the Greeks, to adorn the sword-belt (bullis asper balteus, Sid. Apoll. Carm. 2), the military girdle (aurea bullis cingula, Verg. A. 9.359), the sword (Hom. Il. 11.29), the sceptre (ib. 1.246), a goblet (ib. 11.633), a bronze chest (Niccolini, Case di Pompei, pl. xxxiii.), the panels of doors (Plaut. As. 2.4, 20; Cic. Ver. 2.4, 56, where we learn that the ivory doors of the temple of Athene at Syracuse were adorned with golden bosses). The magnificent bronze doors of the Pantheon at Rome are enriched with highly ornamental bosses, some of which are here shown. Petronius (Sat. 30) speaks of fortunate and unfortunate days being marked by such bosses.

We most frequently read, however, of bullae as ornaments suspended from the neck, worn by children, and especially by the sons of the noble and wealthy. Hence the phrase heres bullatus in Juvenal (14.4). These bullae were made of two concave plates of gold fastened together by a brace of the same material, so as to form a globe, within which an amulet was contained. Hence it is described as bulla aurea. (Macrob. Sat. 1.6.16; Plin. Nat.33.10; Fest. p. 36 ; Prop. 5.1, 131; Plaut. Rud. 4.4, 126.)

The use of the bulla, like that of the praetexta, was derived from the Etruscans, whence it is called by Juvenal (5.164) aurum Etruscum. Both men and women are frequently represented in Etruscan art as wearing necklaces and bracelets formed of bullae (Micali, Mon. di popoli ital. pl. xliii. foll.), doubtless containing amulets [AMULETUM] and such bullae are preserved in museums. Plutarch (Romul. 25) says that they were first introduced into Rome by generals triumphing in imitation of Etruscan kings and Lucumones, while Pliny (l. c.) says that the custom of boys wearing them was originated by Tarquinius Priscus, who granted one to his son for slaying an enemy while still praetextatus. However, they were worn by the general at his triumph and by boys to avert evil influences (Macrob. Sat. 1.6, 9; Plin. Nat.33.84). [FASCINUM] The bulla was originally worn only by the children of the patricians, but subsequently by all of free birth (Cic. Ver. 1.5. 8, 152); while children of the libertini were only permitted to wear an ornament of the same kind made of leather (nodus tantum et signum de paupere loro, Juven. 5.165; libertinis scortea, Ascon. ad Cic. l. c.). [NODUS] On coming of age it was laid aside, together with the praetexta, and was consecrated on this occasion to the Lares. (Pers. 5.31.) Examples of boys represented with the bulla are not unfrequent in statues, on tombs, and in other works of art.

The annexed woodcut represents a boy wearing a bulla (bullatus). The bulla was sometimes hung as an ornament and a charm on the forehead or round the neck of pet animals

(Ovid. Met. 10.114). (Marquardt, Röm. Alt. vii. pp. 82, 182.)

[J.Y] [J.H.F]

Bulla

A circular plate or boss of metal, so called from its resemblance in form to a bubble floating upon water. Bright studs of this description were used to adorn the sword-belt (aurea bullis cingula; bullis asper balteus). Another use of them was in doors the parts of which were fastened together by brass-headed, or even by gold-headed, nails. The magnificent bronze doors of the Pantheon at Rome are enriched with highly ornamented bosses.

We most frequently read, however, of bullae as ornaments worn by children suspended from the neck, and especially by the sons of the noble and wealthy. Such a one is called heres bullatus by Juvenal. His bulla was made of thin plates of gold. Its usual form is shown in the annexed illustration, which represents a fine bulla preserved in the British Museum, and is of the size of the original.

The bulla was worn by children of both sexes for ornament, as a token of paternal affection and a sign of high birth; and, as it was given to infants, it sometimes served, like other ornaments or playthings (crepundia), to recognize a lost child. Probably, also, it contained amulets. See Amuletum.

Instead of the bulla of gold, boys of inferior rank, including the children of freedmen, wore only a piece of leather (lorum).

The use of the bulla, like that of the praetexta (q.v.), was derived from the Etruscans.

On arriving at adolescence, the bulla was laid aside, together with the praetexta, and it was often consecrated, on this occasion, to the Lares, or to some divinity. See Fascinum.