I. ˈbȯl noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English bal, probably from Old English * beall; akin to Old English bealluc testis, Old High German balla ball, Old Norse bǫllr, Old English blāwan to blow — more at blow
Date: 13th century
1. : a round or roundish body or mass: as
a. : a spherical or ovoid body used in a game or sport
a tennis ball
— used figuratively in phrases like the ball is in your court to indicate who has the responsibility or opportunity for further action
b. : earth , globe
c. : a spherical or conical projectile ; also : projectiles used in firearms
d. : a roundish protuberant anatomical structure (as near the tip of a human finger or toe or at the base of a thumb) ; especially : the part of the sole of the human foot between the toes and arch on which the main weight of the body rests in normal walking
2.
a. often vulgar : testis
b. plural
(1) often vulgar : nonsense — often used interjectionally
(2) often vulgar : nerve 3
3. : a game in which a ball is thrown, kicked, or struck ; also : quality of play in such a game
4.
a. : a pitch not swung at by the batter that fails to pass through the strike zone
b. : a hit or thrown ball in various games
foul ball
•
- on the ball
II. verb
Date: 1658
transitive verb
1. : to form or gather into a ball
ball ed the paper into a wad
2. usually vulgar : to have sexual intercourse with
intransitive verb
1. : to form or gather into a ball
2. usually vulgar : to engage in sexual intercourse
III. noun
Etymology: French bal, from Old French, from baller to dance, from Late Latin ballare, from Greek ballizein
Date: circa 1639
1. : a large formal gathering for social dancing
2. : a very pleasant experience : a good time
everyone had a ball at the wedding