Böller

From Middle High German pöler or boler, originally referring to a mortar or catapult, from Middle High German boln (“to throw, to cast”), with the focus over time shifting towards the sound being made.

• IPA^(key): /ˈbœlɐ/

• Audio:

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Böller m (strong, genitive Böllers, plural Böller)

1. firecracker

   Synonym: Feuerwerkskörper m

   Brot statt Böller ― Bread instead of firecrackers (campaign slogan asking to donate money for the hungry instead of spending it on fireworks)

2. a gun or cannon used for salutes

• Friedrich Kluge (1989) “Böller”, in Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache [Etymological Dictionary of the German Language] (in German), 22nd edition, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, →ISBN
• Wolfgang Pfeifer, editor (1993), “Böller”, in Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen (in German), 2nd edition, Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, →ISBN

• “Böller” in Duden online
• “Böller” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache