bult

Bult is a term with several related uses in Dutch-language contexts and in onomastics (the study of names). It can refer to a common noun, a surname, or a place-name element, depending on the context.

As a Dutch noun, bult denotes a bump, lump, or swelling on a surface. It can describe a protrusion in terrain, a raised area on fruit or other objects, or a lump on the body. In medical or everyday language, the term is used for a visible or palpable raised area and does not specify a particular condition.

Bult also exists as a surname in Dutch- and German-speaking regions. As a family name, it appears in historical records and contemporary usage, and it may be found in various professions and communities. Surname origins often relate to topographic features or occupations, though precise lineage varies by individual family.

In geography and toponymy, Bult appears in place names in Dutch- and nearby German-speaking areas. Toponyms using Bult typically reflect historical descriptions of the landscape, frequently indicating a small hill, mound, or raised landform near the settlement.

Etymology commonly links bult to the Dutch word for a bump or mound, with cognates in related Germanic languages. The term’s meaning across languages centers on raised or protruding forms, which explains its use in descriptions of terrain, anatomy, and place names.