1530, from L. promulgatus, pp. of promulgare "make publicly known," perhaps from provulgare, from pro- "forth" + vulgare "make public, publish." Or the second element may be from mulgere "to milk," used metaphorically for "cause to emerge."
Main Entry: prom·ul·gate Pronunciation: 'prä-m&l-"gAt, prO-'m&l- Function: transitive verb Inflected Forms: -gat·ed; -gat·ing 1: to make known or public 2: to put (as a regulation) into effect —prom·ul·ga·tion/"prä-m&l-'gA-sh&n, "prO-"m&l-/noun —prom·ul·ga·tor/'prä-m&l-"gA-t&r, prO-'m&l-/noun