An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. A small, metal object that is fired from a gun.
   

2. Something resembling a bullet, in shape or effect. → Bullet cluster.

Etymology (EN): From M.Fr. boulette “cannonball, small ball,” diminutive of boule “a ball,” from L. bulla “round thing, bubble, knob,” cognate with bowl and boil.

Etymology (PE): Golulé “bullet,” variants gullé, goruk, gulu, gudé, guy “ball, sphere;” cf. Skt. guda- “ball, mouthful, lump, tumour;” Pali gula- “ball;” Gk. gloutos “rump;” L. glomus “ball,” globus “globe;” Ger. Kugel, E. clot; PIE *gel- “to make into a ball.”