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

Definition for ball (2 of 3)

ball 2
[ bawl ]
/ bɔl /

noun

a large, usually lavish, formal party featuring social dancing and sometimes given for a particular purpose, as to introduce debutantes or benefit a charitable organization.
Informal. a thoroughly good time: Have a ball on your vacation!

Origin of ball

2
1625–35; < French bal, noun derivative of baler (now baller) to dance < Late Latin ballāre < Greek (Magna Graecia) ballízein to dance

Definition for ball (3 of 3)

Ball
[ bawl ]
/ bɔl /

noun

George W(ild·man) [wahyld-muh n] /ˈwaɪld mən/,1909–1994, U.S. lawyer, investment banker, and government official.
John,died 1381, English priest: one of the leaders of Wat Tyler's peasants' revolt in 1381.
Lucille,1911–89, U.S. actress.

Example sentences from the Web for ball

British Dictionary definitions for ball (1 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 (2 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

British Dictionary definitions for ball (3 of 3)

Ball
/ (bɔːl) /

noun

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

Medical definitions for ball

ball
[ bôl ]

n.

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

Idioms and Phrases with ball

ball