plural boules
1
: a round, usually crusty loaf of bread
A big seller at Breadsmith … is the French boule, a solid lump of round bread, golden and slightly textured on the outside, soft and chewy in the middle. It works well as a bowl—slice off the top, hollow out its middle, and fill it with soup, chili or cheese fondue.—Jennifer Lowe
Most people think of French bread only as long, slender loaves, but it is also commonly made into round loaves (boules) and dinner rolls …—Reader's Digest Crafts & Hobbies
2
a
usually plural in form but singular in construction
: a bowling game of French origin in which a player standing within a circle placed or scratched on the ground throws or rolls usually steel balls down a long typically dirt or gravel court to stop as close as possible to a smaller target ball : petanque
Outside, on the groomed grounds, old generals from a different war played boules, the French game of lawn bowling.—William Prochnau
When we say boules, we should more properly be using the word pétanque, derived from the French for "feet anchored".—Guy Walters
b
: the ball thrown or rolled in boules
… everyone knows the bowling game, which is similar to Italian boccie but played with baseball-sized … steel balls (boules) on dirt courts.—Barbara Jepson
3
: a synthetically formed mass (as of sapphire) with the atomic structure of a single crystal
4
: a game similar to roulette in which a ball is put in motion in a bowl and players bet on the numbered compartment it will come to rest in
plural boules
: a legislative council of ancient Greece consisting first of an aristocratic advisory body and later of a representative senate
Cite this Entry
“Boule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boule. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share