Bull

the Bull

1. (astronomy, astrology) The constellation and zodiacal sign Taurus.
   • 1668, ‘Godfridus’, The Knowledge of Things Unknown, London: G.P. for G. Sawbridge, page 19:

     The Bull reigneth in the neck, & in the throat.

   • 1862, [Frances Rolleston], Mazzaroth, or, The Constellations, London: Rivingtons, page 15:

     Those stars said to belong to the Ram might as well be supposed to belong to the Bull or the Lion.

   • 1899, Richard Hinckley Allen, Star-Names and their Meaning, New York: G.E. Stechert, page 380:

     An early Grecian gem shows three nude figures, hand in hand, standing on the head of the Bull, one pointing to seven stars in line over the back, which Landseer referred to the Hyades.

   • 1903, Emmeline M. Plunket, Ancient Calendars and Constellations, London: John Murray, page 79:

     In the Assyrian Standard [...] we see the figure of an Archer above that of a galloping Bull, and in another Assyrian Standard, that of Sargon II., we find not only the Archer and the Bull, the two constellations which 4,000 b.c. marked the equinoctial colure, but we may also clearly trace a reference to the two constellations which at the same date marked the solstitial colure, namely, those of the Lion and the Water-man.

   • 1947 November 14, Mountain District Free Press and Frentree Gully News, Tecoma, Vic., page 8, column 2:

     Now, if you went down into the forest where the spring gum-tips gleam gold and ruby in whatever sunshine, Heaven thinks fit to apportion at this season to residents of the Dandenongs (who surely were all born Aquarians) what sign of the Zodiac would you expect to meet? [...] Not Taurus the Bull, who is paddocked, or Cancer the Crab, who lives underground in these regions.

   • 1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 35:

     ‘The second Sign!’ cried Catweazle. ‘’Tis Taurus the Bull!’

   • 1998, John H. Roger, “Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions”, in Journal of the British Astronomy Association, volume 108, number 1, page 24, column 2:

     The Bull was the Bull of Heaven to the Sumerians. It marked the spring equinox and the start of the new year. It's head has always been the Hyades, including Aldebaran.

Bull

1. A surname transferred from the nickname derived from the name of the animal.

• Bulls (place name)

• The sense “bottle” from Latin ampulla (cf. German Pulle), or from contraction of dated Buddel, from French bouteille, or from a merger of these.
• The sense “ball” probably from French boule, from Latin bulla. However, the Luxemburger Wörterbuch seems to imply that it was originally used especially of glass balls, hence perhaps in part from loose use of the above.
• In both senses, influence by the word Boll (“bowl”), from Proto-Germanic *bullǭ, is also possible.

• IPA^(key): /bul/
• Rhymes: -ul

Bull f (plural Bullen)

1. solid ball

   Synonyms: Klatz, Kugel

2. roundish bottle
3. hot water bottle