bullet-riddled

The compound adjective 'bullet-riddled' is a vivid, metaphorical formation from the 19th-20th centuries, directly combining two English words. 'Bullet' traces back to the Latin 'bulla' (a round object, bubble), entering English via French to denote a small ball-shaped projectile. 'Riddled' originates from the Old English 'hriddel', meaning a coarse sieve, evolving to describe anything full of holes like a sieve. The logic of the compound is transparently literal: an object described as 'riddled' is perforated with holes, and the prefixed noun 'bullet' specifies the agent that created those holes, painting a stark picture of violence and damage.

Structure: bullet (projectile) + riddled (perforated) - bullet: From Middle French 'boulette', a diminutive of 'boule' (ball), of Latin origin. Functions as the noun base specifying the object causing the perforations. - riddled: Past participle of 'riddle' (to pierce with many holes), from Old English 'hriddel' (sieve). Functions as the adjective-forming element describing the state of being perforated.