Idioms for ball

Origin of ball

1
1175–1225; Middle English bal, balle < Old French < Germanic *ballaz; compare Old Norse bǫllr, Old High German bal, ballo, balla, German Ball, Dutch bal; perhaps akin to Latin follis leather bag; see ballock(s)

OTHER WORDS FROM ball

ball·er, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ball

bald balled bawled

British Dictionary definitions for ball up (1 of 3)

Ball
/ (bɔːl) /

noun

John . died 1381, English priest: executed as one of the leaders of the Peasants' Revolt (1381)

British Dictionary definitions for ball up (2 of 3)

ball 1
/ (bɔːl) /

noun

verb

Word Origin for ball

C13: from Old Norse böllr; related to Old High German balla, Italian palla French balle

usage for ball

Sense 9 of this word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use

British Dictionary definitions for ball up (3 of 3)

ball 2
/ (bɔːl) /

noun

a social function for dancing, esp one that is lavish or formal
informal a very enjoyable time (esp in the phrase have a ball)

Word Origin for ball

C17: from French bal (n), from Old French baller (vb), from Late Latin ballāre to dance, from Greek ballizein

Medical definitions for ball up

ball
[ bôl ]

n.

A spherical object or mass.
A bezoar.
A large pill or bolus.

Idioms and Phrases with ball up (1 of 2)

ball up

1

Roll something into a ball, as in She loved to knit and was always balling up her yarn. [Early 1800s]

2

Confuse or bungle, as in Jane got all balled up at the beginning of her speech, or Henry really balled up that exam. This term may come from the fact that when a horse is driven over soft or partly thawed snow, the snow becomes packed into icy balls on its hoofs, making it stumble. Another theory is that it alludes to the vulgar term balls for testicles. [First half of 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with ball up (2 of 2)

ball