An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. General: Drop of liquid; small round mass (e.g. wax); spot of color.
   

2. Astro.: A relatively → small, → unresolved source lying toward a much larger structure. → high-excitation blob.

Etymology (EN): From M.E. bubelen “to bubble.”

Etymology (PE): Žig “drop,” probably from žohidan “to drop,” variant of cakidan “to drop.”