Said

to be a Cornish invocation. [Probably Boga-bu, the vulgar “bugaboo,” which, as a Keltik exclamation, evidently means “‘ god’s-life” (see Bhaga and Bu),—Ep.] Bull. Always an emblem of male strength. See Apis, Dionusos, Mithra, Nanda, Taurus, Vrishna. Bulla. Latin. Any kind of ball or bo , especially one worn round the neck by Roman children of the upper cla es, and dedicated in a temple when they attained puberty. It was also a seal, such as the leaden seals whence the Papal “bulls” were named (see Abraxas). Buns. From the Greek word Bounos “cake,” the root meaning to “rise” or “swell up” to be “high”: a “hump,” and perhaps connected with the Keltik Ben and Pen (“head”) applied to mountains. Bread was presented to the gode at Eleusis in the form of buns (marked with a cro ), so that they are connected with the eucharis tik cake or wafer (the Egyptian mest cake, and the Hebrew Ma oth, or unleavened cakes—whence perhaps the name of the “ Ma ”): these buns were specially offered at the festivals of the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, as afterwards at Easter, or the time when the sun rises due east. The ‘“‘ Hot Cro Buns” were intended to be the first food taken at Easter after the Lent fast, and must be eaten with Easter eggs. In vain did Jeremiah (vii, 18; xliv, 17-19) denounce the Kavanim offered to Melkath-hash-Shemim, or “cakes of the Queen of Heaven” (Ba’alath or ’Ashtoreth)—which Hebrew peasants continued to offer after 600 Bc. Their name Kavanim signifies either “ preparations,” or “firm things.” [Rabbi Solomon is quoted by Buxtorf as saying that they were stamped with the image of a great star, as though they were “bread of faces” like the showbread.—Ep.]_ Delaure says that in France, in his time, Palm Sunday was called the “Féte des Pinnes” (“Bun-feast”). 416