balln.1
/bɔːl/, U.S. /bɔl/, /bɑl/ I. A rounded geographical formation.
1. A rounded hill, a knoll. Now English regional (south-western).Only in place names and surnames. See note at etymology.
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the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > rising ground or eminence > [noun] > hillock
barrowc885
burrowc885
berryc1000
knapc1000
knollc1000
ball1166
howa1340
toft1362
hillocka1382
tertre1480
knowec1505
hilleta1552
hummock1555
mountainettea1586
tump1589
butt1600
mountlet1610
mounture1614
colline1641
tuft1651
knock?17..
tummock1789
mound1791
tomhan1811
koppie1848
tuffet1877
1166 in Publ. Pipe Roll Soc. (1888) IX. 26 Alfwinus Attebal.
1327 Lay Subsidy Roll in F. H. Dickinson Kirby's Quest for Somerset (1889) 258 (MED) Henricus atte Balle.
1386 in M. T. Löfvenberg Stud. Middle Eng. Local Surnames (1942) 5 Ric. atte Balle.
1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. Ball, a knoll, a rounded hill; as ‘Cloutsham ball’. I know many fields in different parishes called ‘the ball’—all are hilly and rounded.
II. A globe or spherical body, and related senses.
2.
a. A solid or hollow spherical or egg-shaped object which is thrown, kicked, hit, or otherwise propelled in a game.Recorded earliest in ball play, ball-green: see Compounds 2.Sometimes with preceding word specifying the type of game in which this object is used: see billiard-ball n. at billiards n. Compounds 1, cricket ball n. at cricket n.3 Compounds 1a(b), football n. 4, etc.
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society > leisure > entertainment > toy or plaything > ball or balloon > [noun]
ball?c1225
wind-ball1578
toss-ball1681
air ball1756
balloon1800
poi1817
gum ball1855
air balloon1883
beach-ball1940
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > ball
ball?c1225
pellet1744
game ball1834
pill1896
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 161 Iþe forme ȝeres nis hit bute bal plowe.
c1260 A. H. Smith Place-names W. Riding of Yorks. (1961) II. 147 Balgrene.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 12328 Summe heo driuen balles wide ȝeond þa feldes.
c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) 1994 (MED) Wiȝ þat bal to gider þai plaid.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 13139 (MED) His broþer doghter gente & smalle come playand hir wiþ a balle.
1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 19/1 Balle, pila.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 196/2 Ball to play at tennes with—estevf.
1550 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue (new ed.) i. ix. sig. Ciiii Thou hast striken the ball, vnder the line.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V i. ii. 261 When we haue matched our rackets to these balles.
1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xxii. 18 He will surely..tosse thee like a ball . View more context for this quotation
1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. at Cricket A sort of Play with Bats and a Ball.
1783 G. Crabbe Village i. 22 The flying ball, The bat, the wicket, were his labours all.
1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 388 The ball flies off his bat to all parts of the field.
1892 Times 25 Nov. 12/2 Guy passed the ball to Hutchins, and that player sent it on to Connell.
1943 Amer. Speech 18 106 It may become desirable for the pitcher to..throw the ball directly at his [sc. the batter's] head.
1978 I. Opie Jrnl. 21 June in People in Playground (1993) 64 You throw the ball to each other and if you don't catch it you go down on one knee.
2007 Evening News (Edinb.) (Nexis) 17 Apr. 46 He's proved he can put the ball in the back of the net.
b. A game played with a ball (esp. thrown or pitched with the hand); spec. (U.S.) baseball. Chiefly in phrase to play ball (formerly also to play at (the) ball). In quot. ?1834: an annual handball contest, played on a holiday in towns and villages on the Scottish Border.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun]
ball play?c1225
ballc1300
goalball1834
baseball1845
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > handball, etc. > [noun] > handball > as played in Border towns
ball?1834
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > [noun]
roundball1834
hardball1857
ball1868
inside baseball1897
c1300 St. Cuthbert (Laud) l. 4 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 359 With ȝounge children he pleide atþe bal [a1325 Corpus Cambr. atte balle] þat is felawes were.
a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Instr. Parish Priests (Claud.) (1974) 336 (MED) Bal and bares and suche play, Out of chyrcheȝeorde put a-way.
1577 N. Breton Floorish vpon Fancie sig. Oiiij And let him learne to daunce, to shoote, and play at ball, And any other sporte, but put him to his booke withall.
1598 J. Stow Suruay of London 68 After dinner all the youthes goe into the fieldes, to play at the ball.
1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. xxiii. 101 Medowes where they played at the ball, the long-tennis, and at the Piletrigone.
1675 C. Cotton Burlesque upon Burlesque 50 To play at Cat, at Trap, or Ball.
1737 J. Brickell Nat. Hist. N.-Carolina 336 Their [sc. the Indians'] manner of playing Ball is after this manner.
1763 F. Brooke Hist. Lady Julia Mandeville I. 62 I am just come from playing at ball in the garden.
?1834 Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 1 No. 2. 45 (heading) The game of Ball as played in Dunse on Fastern's Eve.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iii. 57 Quoit, tennis, ball—no games?
1868 H. Chadwick Game of Baseball 162 The National Game of ball of Americans.
1896 R. G. Knowles & M. Morton Baseball 71 He saw ball played by the American Students.
1944 College Topics (Univ. Virginia) 30 Mar. 3 Hank neighbors, who pitched two innings of college ball here last year.
2001 Jrnl. Negro Educ. 71 339 That student recalled that the teacher played ball with them.
c. A throw, toss, or delivery of the ball in a game, esp. (Cricket, Baseball) with the course, speed, etc., of this considered as a measure of its quality or effectiveness. Cf. no-ball n., screwball n. 1, foul ball n. 2a, wide adj. 11b.The meaning of the word in quot. 1483 is unclear; the Latin gloss may instead mean something like ‘ball-player, who throws a ball’.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > characteristics of team ball games > [noun] > actions or manoeuvres
ball1483
through-pass1673
intercept1821
fielding1823
outfielding1851
wrist stroke1851
goalkeeping1856
shot1868
scrimmage1872
passing1882
save1883
touchback1884
angle shot1885
shooting1885
pass1887
line1891
tackling1893
feeding1897
centre1898
chip shot1899
glovework1906
back-lift1912
push pass1919
aerial1921
screen1921
ball-hawking1925
fast break1929
tackle1930
chip1939
screenshot1940
snapshot1961
hang time1969
one-two1969
blooter1976
passback1976
sidefoot1979
1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 19/1 Balle, pila, alipatus qui iaculatur pilam.
1773 Gentleman's Mag. Nov. 568 The modern way Of blocking every ball at play.
1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 154 That brilliant hitter..gained eight from two successive balls.
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) vii. 69 He blocked the doubtful balls, missed the bad ones, took the good ones.
1850 ‘Bat’ Cricketer's Man. (rev. ed.) 54 The names of the bowlers who bowl ‘wide balls’ or ‘no balls’..to be placed on the score.
1935 Times 29 Jan. 5/4 Leyland..missed a straight ball from Constantine, and was out leg-before-wicket.
2007 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 24 Jan. 20 Joyce got his innings going with a sweet cover-drive at a wide ball from Oram.
d. Baseball. A pitch delivered outside the strike zone which the batter does not attempt to hit. Cf. strike n.1 12b, base on balls n. at base n.1 Phrases 3.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > [noun] > pitching > types of pitch
change of pace1650
slow ball1838
passed ball1860
ball1863
rib roaster1864
called ball1865
low ball1866
wild pitch1867
curveball1875
short pitch1877
grass cutter1879
fastball1883
downshoot1886
lob ball1888
pitchout1903
bean ballc1905
spitball1905
screwball1908
spitter1908
sinker ball1910
fallaway1912
meatball1912
fireball1913
roundhouse1913
forkball1923
sinker1926
knuckle ball1927
knuckler1928
gofer1932
slider1936
sailer1937
junk1941
change up1942
eephus1943
junkball1944
split-finger(ed) fastball1980
change1982
1863 Brooklyn Daily Eagle 10 Dec. 2/5 Should a pitcher repeatedly fail to deliver fair balls to the striker, for the apparent purpose of delaying the game, or for any other cause, the Umpire, after warning him, shall call one ball, and if the pitcher persists in such action, two and three balls; and when three balls have been called the striker shall be entitled to his first base.
1912 C. Mathewson Pitching in Pinch 12 It put me in the hole with the count two balls and one strike.
1967 C. Potok Chosen i. 35 He ignored it completely, and the umpire called it a ball.
1986 R. J. Conley Back to Malachi 145 Butcher..let fly another at me. Richard called that one a strike. The next one was another ball, and the next one.
2001 Sporting News 10 Sept. 46/1 There are three balls and two strikes.
3. In general use: any (approximately) spherical object.
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the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [noun] > sphericity or globularity > sphere > spherical or globular object
trendlea900
appleeOE
ballc1300
roundc1330
bowl1413
rotundity?a1425
spherea1425
pomec1440
globec1450
orba1500
rotund1550
roundel1589
pompom1748
c1300 St. Michael (Harl.) in T. Wright Pop. Treat. Sci. (1841) 134 As me mai bi a candle i-seo, that is bisides a balle, That ȝeveth liȝt on hire halven-del.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 179 (MED) Þe þyef þet þrauþ þane little bal in-to þe hondes þrote þet he ne ssel naȝt berke.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvi. lxxx. 865 Wiþ balles of lede men assayeth depnes.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 521 (MED) His heued ys rouned as a balle and squa ys þe firmament alle.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1756 He rolleth vnder foot as dooth a bal.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 167 Turned into a round heauie baule.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §696 The Wormes with many feet which round themselves into Balls.
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. ii. vii. 191 Let this Ball be suspended by this String, being extended to such a length, that the space of every Vibration may be equal to a second Minute of time.
1693 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. 179 What if an Ivory-Ball were made like that of the Royal-Oak Lottery, with Thirty two sides.
1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 17 May (1965) I. 356 The..tents..are adorned on the top with guilded balls.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VII. 303 They all, when touched, contract themselves, rolling themselves up like a ball.
1831 R. Blakey Ess. Good & Evil 151 To attend to them all at one time as jugglers do with their balls.
1846 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Wks. I. 107/2 A ball must strike the earth before it can rebound.
1878 Mrs. H. Wood Pomeroy Abbey 242 A short, stout ball of a woman.
1947 Times 28 Jan. 1/3 (advt.) A Lady's fob watch, in shape of a ball.
2007 Sentinel (Stoke-on-Trent) (Nexis) 18 Apr. 7 I have made my unicycle more stylish by putting little balls on the spokes and a name on the seat.
4. Chiefly poetic. Any planetary or celestial object, esp. the earth, the globe. In later use only with qualifying adjective, as terrestrial, earthly, etc. Now rare.
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the world > the universe > heavenly body > [noun]
candle937
lightOE
starsc1225
ballc1300
bodya1398
celestinec1430
heavenly bodya1475
luminair1477
luminary1489
streamer1513
host or hosts of heaven1535
globe1555
orb1565
sphere1598
planet1640
superstar1910
the world > the universe > planet > primary planet > earth > [noun]
earthOE
ballc1300
Tellus1567
this earthly round1584
mass1587
underworld1609
footstool1652
terrestrial1745
terra firma1786
Planet Earth1858
terra1947
earthside1958
c1300 St. Michael (Harl.) in T. Wright Pop. Treat. Sci. (1841) 137 Urthe is amidde the see a lute bal and round.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Acts xvii. 24 (R.) The heauenly balles and circles aboue.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. ii. 37 From vnder this terrestriall ball . View more context for this quotation
1621 J. Taylor Superbiæ Flagellum sig. B1 Then did the Archworkmaster of this All, Create this Massy Vniuersall Ball.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals vi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 28 This goodly Ball.
1717 A. Pope Elegy Unfortunate Lady in Wks. 360 If eternal justice rules the ball.
1767 J. Collyer tr. J. J. Bodmer Noah II. x. 96 Twice will it come to ravage its borders, and spread new oceans on the terrestrial ball.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Two Voices in Poems (new ed.) II. 118 No compound of this earthly ball.
2004 Tulsa (Oklahoma) World (Nexis) 27 Apr. d1 I'll make wardrobe plans for myself before checking out from this terrestrial ball.
5.
a. A projectile (esp. a spherical one) launched from a catapult or fired from a cannon or firearm; spec. a solid projectile, usually made of lead or iron, used in small-calibre firearms (cf. bullet n.1 3a). Now chiefly historical.
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society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > bullet or ball
balla1387
pellock1496
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 297 (MED) Þe men of þat lond..vseþ balles and alblastres.
a1450 (?c1421) J. Lydgate Siege Thebes (Arun.) (1911) 4312 Ful many Grek..was..betyn of with grete rounde ballys, That her lay on..And þe noyse..of gonne-shot..loude out-ronge.
1588 Ord. King's Fleet in Harl. Misc. (1810) I. 118 The artillery..being all charged with their balls.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) v. ii. 17 The fatall Balls of murthering Basiliskes. View more context for this quotation
1652 J. Mayne tr. J. Donne Epigr. in J. Donne Paradoxes sig. F2v Threatning Bals in showres of murther fly.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 518 Mineral and Stone..to found thir Engins and thir Balls Of missive ruin. View more context for this quotation
1692 Diary Siege Lymerick 28 March out with their Arms, Baggage, Drums beating, Ball in Mouth..Colours flying.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 31 July (1965) I. 421 Tombs of fine Marble..daily lessen'd by the prodigious Balls that the Turks make from them for their Canon.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Recoil The Ball, when the Gun had liberty to recoil, was always thrown to the right.
1797 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 194/2 Moyens, which carried a ball of 10 or 12 ounces.
1812 Examiner 19 Oct. 659/1 More than 600,000 balls and shells.
1858 W. Ellis Three Visits Madagascar xii. 330 A round stone, like a large cannon-ball.
1928 Sci. Monthly 26 512 He was called upon..to experiment on rifling cannon and musket balls.
1983 Technol. & Culture 24 566 Such founders used their skill to minimize the amount of expensive bronze in their cannons; this resulted..in a lighter and handier piece for the same weight of ball.
2007 Daily Mail (Irish ed.) (Nexis) 12 May 8 The muskets could throw a ball about 100 yards, but they were woefully inaccurate.
b. As a mass noun: ammunition of this kind.
ΚΠ
1587 T. Saunders Most Lamentable Voiage sig. B.iiv [The King] had discharged three shots without ball.
1637 R. Monro Exped. Scots Regim. ii. 10 It is the duty of a Commander, to whom a Frontier Garrison is put in trust,..to provide it with victuals, with powder, with Ball, Match and Armes.
1654 T. Blount Acad. Eloquence 146 The most excellent words without solidity of matter, are no more considerable, then the burst of a cannon, without Ball, which makes a great noyse, but does no execution.
1710 London Gaz. No. 4702/2 The Powder, small Ball, and small Arms remaining in the Garrisons.
1781 R. Lawson Let. 25 Feb. in Papers (1952) V. 6 A number of the Guns are very good for the purpose of Shooting loose Ball.
1802 F. Reynolds Folly as it Flies ii. iii. 27 Fighting without ball is hopeless, for they load the pistols.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 479 A body of troops..was ordered to load with ball.
1871 Proc. Royal Soc. 1870–71 19 357 He marched 32 miles on level ground, carrying the new valise equipment, the service-kit, 40 rounds of ball ammunition, rifle, bayonet, and great coat.
1933 Times 13 Nov. 13/6 (let.) As an ex-Service man I know something about ball ammunition.
2000 Valley Independent (Monessen, Pa.) 12 Oct. c1/3 Ammunition is limited to round lead ball.
6. The golden orb carried as part of a monarch's regalia, esp. considered as an emblem of sovereignty.
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society > authority > office > symbol of office or authority > regalia > [noun] > orb
spherea1387
pomec1440
ballc1475
mound1488
globe1582
orb1602
tut1674
c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) 114 (stage-direct.) In hys leyfte hande a balle of golde yith a cros þerwppon.
1565 B. Googe tr. ‘M. Palingenius’ Zodiake of Life (new ed.) iii. sig. Gviiv Here foolishe fondenesse holdes ye balle, imperiall Scepter aye.
1573 J. Bridges Supremacie Christian Princes iv. iv. 973 One giue him [sc. the Prince] his sworde, another giue him his Scepter, another giue him the Ball.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iv. i. 257 The Scepter, and the Ball, the Sword, The Mase, the Crowne Imperiall. View more context for this quotation
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 149 A young Man, that..ought to hold in his hand the Ball of a Kingdome.
1717 A. Pope Leaving Town in Wks. 375 Thus vanish sceptres, coronets, and balls.
1790 R. Merry Laurel of Liberty 26 What is the crown the scepter and the ball? Unreal state and wretched mumm'ry all.
1844 Times 15 Oct. 6/2 Freiherr Ihre with the sceptre, Baron Löfvenskjold with the ball.
1876 Times 29 Aug. 8/6 On the table beside His Majesty are the crown and sceptre, the King's hand grasping the ball and cross.
1951 J. Macleod Soviet Theatre Sketch Bk. ix. 91 Iago places his foot on the inert body of his foaming General (ball and sceptre in his imagined hand?).
1999 Internat. Herald Tribune (Nexis) 22 Oct. 26 Rudolf II—sitting on a throne with ball and scepter in hand, while the seven electors file past.
7. Chiefly Military (now historical). A globular case or shell filled or impregnated with combustible material, intended to be fired from a mortar or other artillery piece as an incendiary, or to give off light or smoke. Frequently (and now only) with distinguishing word, as fireball n. 1, light ball n. at light n.1 Compounds 3, smoke-ball n. 1, stink-ball n. at stink n. Compounds, etc.
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society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > [noun] > incendiary missile
fireballc1485
stopsel1489
firework1528
ball?a1549
firepot?a1549
bomb1588
powder pot1611
fire-trunk1639
?a1549 Inventory Henry VIII (1998) I. 124/1 Bawles of wildfire xxti.
?1583 tr. A. de Bazán Relation Expongnable Attempt & Conquest Tercera sig. B3v Three hosheads of cannon poulder: 18 bals of wild fire: 270 shot of yron: foure and thirtie pellet of stone.
1666 Bedloe's Narr. Popish Plot 6 A Paper with a Ball of Wild-fire,..was found in the Nave of a Wheel, in a Wheelers-yard.
1729 G. Shelvocke, Jr. tr. K. Siemienowicz Great Art Artillery iv. x. 287 We have a Way of preparing Balls which during their Combustion cast forth a Noisome Smoke.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) Smoak, or dark Balls..fill the air with smoak, and..prevent discoveries. Sky Balls..bursting like rockets, afford a spectacle of decoration.
1779 G. Smith Universal Mil. Dict. at Ball Anchor-balls..are made with an iron bar of 2/3 of the ball's diameter in length... One half is fixed within the ball and the other remains without... Very useful to set fire to wooden bridges.
1870 Rep. U.S. Commissioners Paris Univ. Exhib. 1867 131 Parachute light-ball... The ball is fired from a mortar, with a light charge, so as to reach a point over the enemy's works, when a time fuze ignites a small bursting charge which throws away the outer shell.
1965 F. A. Shannon Organization & Admin. Union Army 1861–1865 143 ‘Carcasses’, ‘smoke balls’, and ‘suffocating balls’, as they were called, were ‘shells with several fuse holes, from which horrible fumes, vapors or flames rush forth, blinding and suffocating all around’.
8. One of the small black or white spheres used in voting by ballot (ballot n.1 2).Balls are typically made of wood (black) or ivory (white), each voter being provided with one of each colour. The casting of a white ball represents a vote in favour of a candidate, motion, etc., a black ball a vote against. Cf. blackball n. 1, blackball v.
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the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > [noun] > means of signifying choice > ball or bean
ballot1549
ball1550
bean1579
1550 W. Paget Let. in Camden Misc. (1974) XXV. 100 The more voyces to be tryed by two balles a white and a blacke to be putt by euery of the counsaill in two seuerall pottes,..the sute to take place if th[eyr] shalbe putt mo white thenne blacke balles.
1603 T. North tr. S. Goulart Lives Epaminondas, Philip of Macedon (new ed.) 13 in T. North tr. Plutarch Lives (new ed.) The Iudges..would neuer take their bals to ballot against him.
1620 H. Wotton in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 309 In the first Ballotation..the Balls were equal.
1690 J. Dryden Don Sebastian i. i. 9 For ev'ry number'd Captive put a ball Into an Urn: three only black be there, The rest, all white, are safe.
1709 London Gaz. No. 4543/1 They took a Boy to draw the Balls.
a1757 P. H. Bruce Memoirs (1782) x. 363 Every person qualified to ballot, had a little ball of white leather given him, which he could put into either of the apertures without its being observed.
1819 Times 12 June 3/2 He who gives a public vote..soon contradicts that vote by the ball which he deposits in the urn on a ballot.
1884 C. Dickens Dict. London 25/1 One black ball in three excludes.
1962 Times 21 Apr. 11/5 In one method, white and black balls were used, and the ballot box had a single compartment.
1998 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) (Nexis) 18 May 10 At the end of the vote there were 24 white balls in the ballot box and four black.
III. Material formed into a sphere.† 11. A rounded package; = bale n.1 Obsolete.
9. A spherical or rounded mass.
a. In general use: a rounded mass of any substance. Cf. snowball n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [noun] > sphericity or globularity > sphere > spherical or globular mass
clewc897
ballc1275
conglobation1646
conglomeration1662
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > mass formed by collection of particles > round
ballc1275
clew1600
ballotini1951
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 8704 Winneð þas stanes alle..for nu ȝe maȝen heom habben [read hebben; c1300 Otho hebbe] swulche veðerene balles.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 155v Þis laie casteþ vp balles and clottes of glewe [L. glebas bituminis].
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 2003 Balles..Of wex and tow.
1569 T. Blague Schole of Wise Conceytes 238 But ye Dorre rolled togither a ball of dung whiche he caried vp and lette fall into Iupiters bosome.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost iii. i. 192 With two pitch balles stucke in her face for eyes. View more context for this quotation
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. Aa6 Balls of Cowslips, Daisie rings.
1660 G. Mackenzie Aretina iii. 309 His Army might prove like a ball of snow, which the further it rouls, grows alwayes the greater.
1783 Ainsworth's Thes. Linguæ Latinæ (new ed.) A musk ball, or sweet ball, Pastillus.
1797 Encycl. Brit. VII. 772/1 He takes up a small ball of matter, which sticks to the end of the tube by constantly turning it.
1875 F. T. Buckland Log-bk. Fisherman 204 A living ball of Crabs.
1880 W. H. Patterson Gloss. Words Antrim & Down (at cited word) A large and compact shoal of herrings is called by fishermen ‘a ball’.
1930 Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 17 Jan. 19/6 If you made a ball of mud and throw it at somebody it would dirty the person but it would also dirty your hands.
2000 E. A. Davidson You can't eat GNP v. 83 If it were not for the existence of heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere, the earth would be a frozen ball of ice.
b. A globular mass formed by winding thread; a clew.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > ball of
clew956
bottom1440
clowchync1440
ball1572
clue1611
glome1643
yarn-clue1820
1572 J. Jones Benefit Bathes of Buckstones f. 12v The wind baule, or yarne ball.
1697 in J. Doran Ann. Eng. Stage (1864) I. xii. 250 A knotting needle, and a ball of..white knotting.
1793 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry III. i. viii. 31 Put but a small quid of tobacco in your mouth, not swell the cheeks as if you had robbed a weaver of a ball of yarn.
1841 F. Marryat Joseph Rushbrook I. xv. 200 You had a ball of twine.
1884 Black in Harper's Mag. May 951/1 She got her knitting-needles and a ball of wool.
1941 Times 24 July 6/4 A bunch of flowers in one hand and a ball of string in the other.
2007 Times Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) (Nexis) 9 Apr. c1 The Aces seemed to toy with the S-Kings like a cat plays with a ball of thread.
c. A spherical piece of soap. Cf. soap-ball n. at soap n.1 Compounds 2c(a), washing-ball n. at washing n. Compounds 1b. Now only in wash-ball n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing agents > [noun] > soap > form of soap
soft soap?a1425
washing-ball1538
ball1575
tablet1582
musk ball1589
liquid soap1600
soap-ball1601
wash-ball1601
savonette1702
brick soap1753
bar-soap1824
bar1834
sand-ball1846
soap powder1865
leaf1882
soap leaf1909
soap flakes1926
shower gel1970
1575 G. Gascoigne Poesies i. f. cxxvij The Barber liues by handling of his ball.
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 13 As a Barber wasteth his Ball in the water.
a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) iii. 26 Balls..to wash out your staines.
d. Horticulture. = root ball n. (a) at root n.1 Compounds 2. Cf. clod n. 3c. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > [noun] > clod > adhering to roots
clod1693
mote1693
ball1771
earth-ball1815
1771 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 1 268 Care must be taken to preserve as much earth as can be about their roots; and if it should fall off, it must be supplied with more earth, so as to form a ball about the roots of each Plant.
1855 J. W. Loudon My Own Garden ii. vi. 32 Place it [sc. the plant] made in the bed to receive it, pressing the earth closely down to the ball.
1881 Encycl. Brit. XII. 239/1 The tree will then be ready to lift if carefully prized up from beneath the ball.
1924 H. H. Thomas Compl. Amateur Gardener iii. 18 The larger the ‘ball’ the more quickly will a tree or plant recover after having been transplanted.
1951 Dict. Gardening (Royal Hort. Soc.) IV. 2122/2 Next day give it a light watering to wet the ‘ball’ and settle the soil around it.
e. Metallurgy. A mass of puddled iron worked into a pasty lump, to be hammered and rolled when taken from the furnace; = puddle ball n. at puddle v. Compounds. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > iron > [noun] > mass of puddled iron
loop1674
ball1825
bloom1865
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 334 When the iron is deprived of the carbon..the furnaceman rolls it up into balls of one half or three quarters of a cwt. each.
1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) II. 1013 The bloom or rough ball from the puddle-furnace.
1922 J. J. Davis Iron Puddler xviii. 110 If the charge is six hundred pounds, each of my balls must weigh exactly two hundred pounds.
1995 Technol. & Culture 36 278 (caption) Puddled-iron ball being removed from the furnace at Ludlum Steel Company, Dunkirk, New York, in the early 1920s.
10. Medicine. A bolus; medicine in the form of a ball or large pill. Now only in Veterinary Medicine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > veterinary medicine and surgery > [noun] > medicines or applications > large pill
balla1400
physic ball1831
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines of specific form > pills, tablets, etc. > [noun] > pill > large pill
balla1400
bale1576
bole1601
bolus1603
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 62 (MED) Make of hem smale ballis, þat ech bal weiȝe a dragme.
?a1500 in G. Henslow Med. Wks. 14th Cent. (1899) 51 (MED) Make of hem [sc. herbs] round ballys as hit were a note and let hym drynke hym or ete hem.
a1604 Earl of Oxford Love Quest. in A. Grosart Misc. (1872) IV. i. 58 His bitter ball is sugred blisse.
1614 G. Markham Cheape & Good Husbandry i. xxii. 21 Making two or three balls thereof, make the horse swallow them downe.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) We meet with balls for the tooth-ach.
1776 Farmer's Mag. July 134 Warm mashes..should be kept..before them, and the following balls given:..Aniseed, Horse-spice, and Diapente, each half an ounce; Treacle.
1841 Lancet 5 June 362/1 The patient had himself been employed for some time past in feeding and administering balls to two glandered horses.
1903 N. S. Mayo Care of Animals vii. 132 With a little practice, balls can be administered readily.
2005 Jrnl. Ethnopharmacol. 96 432 (table) Artemisia absinthum L... Fed to milk cows; also mixed with lard, in small balls (veterinary use).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > merchandise > [noun] > goods carried or sold in specific unit
ball1425
balette1453
packware1570
bale-goods1694
allotment1703
ballot1729
bale1753
parcel1841
unit load1884
bagging1900
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > pack or parcel > bale
balec1380
ball1425
1425 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 205 For losse off ij ball peper off Steven Brown.
1578 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories Archdeaconry Richmond (1853) 277 Iij ball of dyce, ixd.
1583 J. Newbery Let. in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) ii. 246 Hath sent you in the Emanuel a ball of Nutmegs.
1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. xxxvii. 166 Seven balls of bullets [Fr. sept balles de boullets] at a dozen the ball.
1672 J. Dodington Let. 21 Mar. in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1971) VIII. 608 When a Ball of goods is made up to be exported, the Merchant goes to the Custome house, and enters them.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) II. 389 Fifteen balls of rosemary, the ball weighing 750 pounds.
1893 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 160/2 An Icelander barters a certain number of horses or sheep or rolls of dried fish or balls of hay for a supply of groceries.
1925 Bridgeport (Connecticut) Telegram 8 July 13/5 Morris chose to sleep on a ball of hay in the cattle quarters.
IV. An object or part with a rounded outline, and related senses.† 15. ball in the hood and variants: applied humorously to the head. Obsolete.Perhaps partly figurative from sense 2a.† 20. Architecture. ball of a pillar: the scotia, a hollow moulding between the fillets in the base of a pillar or column. Obsolete. rare.
12. slang.
a. Usually in plural. A testicle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > secretory organs > gland > specific glands > [noun] > testicle or testicles
bollockeOE
codOE
stone1154
balla1325
cullionc1386
genitoriesa1387
pendantsa1400
bollock stone?a1425
testiclec1425
jewelc1475
dimissariesa1513
dowsetc1560
pill1608
bauble1654
Aaron's bells1681
nutmegs1690
codlings?1691
testis1704
spermarium1861
spermary1864
marblesa1866
nut1865
knackers1866
rock1918
cobbler1934
plum1934
gooly1937
nad1964
cojones1966
nadgers1967
noonies1972
a1325 (c1250) Prov. Hendyng (Cambr.) xliv, in Anglia (1881) 4 190 (MED) Þe maide þat ȝevit hirsilf alle Oþir to fre man oþir to þralle..And pleiit with þe croke and wiþ þe balle, And mekit gret þat erst was smalle.
a1456 in Mod. Lang. Notes (1904) 19 37 (MED) Of my ploughe þe best stott is balle.
a1513 W. Dunbar Flyting in Poems (1998) I. 203 Thy bawis hingis throw thy breik.
1634 Noble Souldier v. i. sig. H4v My Balls are sav'd then.
1757 Muse in Good Humour (new ed.) II. 195 Why, what's become of those two Balls?
1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover xv. 263 She..gathered his balls in her hand.
1992 L. Bryan in First Fictions Introd. 11 65 The funny thing about John is he's only supposed to have one ball.
2007 Sunday Mirror (Nexis) 11 Mar. 31 She kicked him in the balls and spat at him.
b. plural (frequently as a mass noun). figurative and in extended use. See also Phrases 5 and balls n.
(a) Nonsense, rubbish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > nonsense, rubbish > [noun]
magged talea1387
moonshine1468
trumperyc1485
foolishness1531
trash1542
baggage1545
flim-flam1570
gear1570
rubbisha1576
fiddle-faddle1577
stuff1579
fible-fable1581
balductum1593
pill1608
nonsense1612
skimble-skamble1619
porridge1642
mataeology1656
fiddle-come-faddle1663
apple sauce1672
balderdash1674
flummery1749
slang1762
all my eye1763
diddle-daddle1778
(all) my eye (and) Betty Martin1781
twaddle1782
blancmange1790
fudge1791
twiddle-twaddle1798
bothering1803
fee-faw-fum1811
slip-slop1811
nash-gab1816
flitter-tripe1822
effutiation1823
bladderdash1826
ráiméis1828
fiddlededee1843
pickles1846
rot1846
kelter1847
bosh1850
flummadiddle1850
poppycock1852
Barnum1856
fribble-frabble1859
kibosh1860
skittle1864
cod1866
Collyweston1867
punk1869
slush1869
stupidness1873
bilge-water1878
flapdoodle1878
tommyrot1880
ruck1882
piffle1884
flamdoodle1888
razzmatazz1888
balls1889
pop1890
narrischkeit1892
tosh1892
footle1894
tripe1895
crap1898
bunk1900
junk1906
quatsch1907
bilge1908
B.S.1912
bellywash1913
jazz1913
wash1913
bullshit?1915
kid-stakes1916
hokum1917
bollock1919
bullsh1919
bushwa1920
noise1920
bish-bosh1922
malarkey1923
posh1923
hooey1924
shit1924
heifer dust1927
madam1927
baloney1928
horse feathers1928
phonus-bolonus1929
rhubarb1929
spinach1929
toffeea1930
tomtit1930
hockey1931
phoney baloney1933
moody1934
cockalorum1936
cock1937
mess1937
waffle1937
berley1941
bull dust1943
crud1943
globaloney1943
hubba-hubba1944
pish1944
phooey1946
asswipe1947
chickenshit1947
slag1948
batshit1950
goop1950
slop1952
cack1954
doo-doo1954
cobbler1955
horse shit1955
nyamps1955
pony1956
horse manure1957
waffling1958
bird shit1959
codswallop1959
how's your father1959
dog shit1963
cods1965
shmegegge1968
pucky1970
taradiddle1970
mouthwash1971
wank1974
gobshite1977
mince1985
toss1990
arse1993
1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang I. at Balls Balls, all (popular), all rubbish.
1890 J. S. Farmer Slang I. 109/2 All balls, all rubbish; nonsense.
1903 O. Wister Philos. 4 i. 10 ‘If I were to stop thinking about you, you'd evaporate.’ ‘Which is balls,’ observed the second boy judicially, again in the slang of his period, ‘and can be proved so. For you're not always thinking about me, and I've never evaporated once.’
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. vii. [Aeolus] 130 All balls! Bulldosing the public!
1946 B. Marshall George Brown's Schooldays 79 What do you mean by talking all that unpatriotic balls to the Old Man yesterday?
1986 R. Sproat Stunning the Punters 187 I have always regarded Freud as utter balls.
2004 Observer 23 May (Business section) 18/4 Initial puzzlement here on Cheapside as passing traders appeared to be talking indecipherable balls.
(b) Originally U.S. Virility, (manly) power or strength; substance, force, vigour. Also: courage, determination. Cf. ballsy adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > manliness > [noun]
manshipc1275
manheadc1300
virtuec1330
manhooda1393
manliheadc1425
manful-hardinessc1450
manlinessc1450
manfulnessc1460
virtuosity1543
man1602
manlikeness1742
ruggedness1845
balls1958
a1903 W. A. Henley in C. Harman R. L. Stevenson (2005) iv. 17 All eloquence and balls and brains; Heroic and also infantile.
1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover xiv. 236 You say a man's got no brain, when he's a fool... And when he's got none of that spunky wild bit of a man in him, you say he's got no balls. When he's sort of tame.
1958 in H. Wentworth & S. B. Flexner Dict. Amer. Slang (1960) 17/1 (oral quot.) That copy is too weak. Rewrite it and put balls on it!
1979 Tucson (Arizona) Mag. Jan. 29/3 I told him I just can't do it that way... I suppose it took balls, but it is no more balls than anyone should have for themselves.
1984 M. Amis Money 315 Just keeping a handhold and staying where you are,..even that takes tons of balls.
2006 Sunday Territorian (Austral.) (Nexis) 17 Dec. 38 Making a decision like that..takes a lot of balls.
13. Chiefly in ball of the foot.
a. The prominent part of the sole of the human foot between the base of the toes and the arch or instep. Formerly also: †the sole of the foot (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > foot > [noun] > sole > hollow of
ball of the footc1350
c1350 Nominale (Cambr. Ee.4.20) in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1906) 4* Taloun pee plaunte et kyuyl, Hele fot bal and ancle.
?c1475 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 15562) f. 8 A Balle of þe hand or of þe fote, callus.
1635 W. Barriffe Mil. Discipline ix. 29 In the Motion of Facings every man turned on the center, or Ball of the left foot, moving onely the right.
1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. vii. 122 They..hold one end of it down with the Ball of the Foot.
1706 tr. L. Verduc Manner curing Fractures xxx. 134 in tr. A. Belloste Hosp. Surgeon (ed. 2) The Heel, which turns outwards, is so affected, that the Patient can't stand upon it, and so can only rest upon the Ball of his Foot.
1833 Regulations Instr. Cavalry i. i. 14 The recruit brings the ball of the right foot to the left heel.
1899 Westm. Gaz. 18 Nov. 3/2 My feet..slipped on the pedal till I was treadmilling clumsily with the middle instead of the ball of the foot.
1950 S. Thompson Old Time Dancing (1951) i. 7 It is the poise forward, with your weight on the balls of the feet that makes Waltzing such a pleasure.
2004 Zest Dec. 54/2 Clenching your toes and putting extra pressure on the ball of your foot..can lead to problems such as Morton's neuroma.
b. The central part of an animal's foot, as the rounded part of a bird's foot between the claws, the frog of a horse's hoof, the pad of a dog's foot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > body and limbs > [noun] > paw or foot > ball
ball of the foot1575
1575 G. Turberville Bk. Faulconrie 344 If a hawkes feete be but swolne, & haue not any knubs in the ball of the foote.
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice vi. x. 62 If the horses hoofe be ouer hollow, you shal then pare away no part of the ball of the foot.
1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words Expeditate, signifieth in the Forrest Law, to cut out the balls of the dogs feet, for the preservation of the Kings Game.
1704 Dict. Rusticum sig. Mm6/1 The Frog of the [horse's] Foot, by some called the Ball of the Foot.
1835 Jrnl. Royal Geogr. Soc. 5 171 The irons which had been made red-hot were..thrust..into the ball of the [camel's] foot.
1941 A. R. Winter & E. M. Funk Poultry, Sci. & Pract. xi. 385 Symptoms of chick dermatitis include..development of wartlike protuberances on the balls of the feet.
1980 K. Thear in K. Thear & A. Fraser Small Farmer's Guide to Raising Livestock & Poultry (U.S. ed.) ii. 61/1 A two-year-old Rhode x Light Sussex hen which was limping... An examination revealed a hard abscess on the ball of the foot.
14. More fully ball of the eye. Originally: the pupil or ‘apple’ of the eye; the visible part of the eye, esp. considered as the organ of sight. In later use: the whole eye within the lids and socket; the globe of the eye. Cf. eyeball n. 1, globe n. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [noun]
eyeeOE
the fleshly eyec1175
balla1400
window1481
glazier1567
light1580
crystal1592
orb1594
glass1597
optic1601
twinkler1605
lampa1616
watchera1616
wink-a-peeps1615
visive organa1652
ogle1673
peeper1691
goggle?1705
visual orb1725
orbit1727
winker1734
peep?1738
daylights?1747
eyewinker1808
keeker1808
glimmer1814
blinker1816
glim1820
goggler1821
skylight1824
ocular1825
mince pie1857
saucer1858
mince1937
the world > life > the body > sense organ > sight organ > parts of sight organ > [noun] > eyeball
balla1400
eye-apple1549
eyeball1594
globe of the eye1615
stivea1642
ocular globe1885
a1400 Gloss. W. de Bibbesworth (Paris) 49 Ye bal of ye ye.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 21 Balle of þe ye, Pupilla.
1566 T. Blundeville Arte of Rydynge (rev. ed.) ii. f. 2v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe The horse, whose balles of his eyes are whyte, seyth not well in tyme of snow.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. v. sig. K.vij/1 The balles of his eyes shall see nought but darknesse.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. ii. 117 Moue these eyes? Or whither riding on the balls of mine seeme they in motion? View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 94 Such a tender ball as th' eye . View more context for this quotation
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 145. ⁋2 The Balls of Sight are so form'd, that one Man's Eyes are Spectacles to another to read his Heart with.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Myopia The Myopia is owing to the too great Convexity of the Ball of the Eye.
1786 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 2 184 I was much surprised..to see a real living worm within the ball of the horse's eye.
1808 W. Scott Marmion ii. xxxii. 111 Raising his sightless balls to heaven.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad II. xiv. 71 Him Peneleus smote..In the eye's socket, forcing out the ball.
1930 Burlington Mag. Sept. 127/2 We can trace certain Flémallesque characteristics, such as the smallness of the balls of the eyes.
2003 M. Ali Brick Lane xii. 211 How had she been so foolish? She put her fingernails against the balls of her eyes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > [noun]
nolleOE
headOE
topa1225
copc1264
scalpa1300
chiefc1330
crownc1330
jowla1400
poll?a1400
testea1400
ball in the hoodc1400
palleta1425
noddle?1507
costard?1515
nab?1536
neck1560
coxcomb1567
sconce1567
now1568
headpiece1579
mazer1581
mazardc1595
cockcomb1602
costrel1604
cranion1611
pasha1616
noddle pate1622
block1635
cranium1647
sallet1652
poundrel1664
nob1699
crany?1730
knowledge box1755
noodle1762
noggin1769
napper1785
garret1796
pimple1811
knowledge-casket1822
coco1828
cobbra1832
coconut1834
top-piece1838
nut1841
barnet1857
twopenny1859
chump1864
topknot1869
conk1870
masthead1884
filbert1886
bonce1889
crumpet1891
dome1891
roof1897
beanc1905
belfry1907
hat rack1907
melon1907
box1908
lemon1923
loaf1925
pound1933
sconec1945
nana1966
c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 6471 (MED) Many of his kniȝttes gode Loren þe balles in þe hode.
a1450 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) l. 4552 in K. Brunner Mittelengl. Vers-roman über Richard Löwenherz (1913) 313 Men off armes þe swerdes out breyde; Balles out off hoodes soone þei pleyde.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 20 I shrew thi balle under thi hode.
c1500 Rob. Hood (Ritson) i. 1454 He ne shall lese his hede, That is the best ball in his hode.
16. ball of the hand.
a. The ball of the thumb, or this together with the rounded part on the opposite edge of the hand (the hypothenar eminence); the heel of the hand. Also: the prominent part of the palm of the hand formed by the joints at the base of the fingers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > digit > finger > [noun] > thumb > parts of
ball of the hand?c1475
hill of Mars1578
plain of Mars1653
ball of the thumb1701
thumb-ball1821
thenar eminence1899
?c1475 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 15562) f. 8 A Balle of þe hand or of þe fote, callus.
1704 J. Elsum Art of Painting after Ital. Manner (new ed.) 38 You must anoint that place..with Nut Oyl..and rubb it in with the Ball of your Hand.
1798 Regulations for Exercise Riflemen & Light Infantry (War Office) i. ii. 7 The right hand..holds the small part of the stock between the third and little finger and the ball of the hand.
1927 A. Elson Bk. Musical Knowl. (new ed.) xlvi. 415 The first harmonic..is obtained by touching the string lightly in the middle with the ball of the hand and plucking with the thumb or first finger.
1976 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 76 1816 Both pulsations and thrills are felt by using the ball of the hand (the palmar area below the fingers).
b. The palm of the hand; the central hollow of this. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > hand > [noun] > palm of > hollow of
ball of the hand1578
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man ix. 112 In the sole of the foote and ball of the hand grow no heares.
1601 A. Dent Plaine Mans Path-way to Heauen 269 Some men..will easily feele the lightest feather..laide vppon the ball of their hands.
1702 W. Cave Primitive Christianity (ed. 6) ii. 302 They used to tickle each other in the ball of the Hand, by which they were satisfied that the stranger really was of their Gang and Party.
1995 Internat. Rev. Aesthetics & Sociol. Mus. 26 51 The hand is depressed so that the neck [sc. of the Irish fiddle] is supported in the ball of the hand.
17.
a. Any rounded or protuberant part of the body, as the swelling of the cheek, the pad of a finger, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > projection or protuberance > [noun] > rounded projection
boss1386
ball1530
tubercle1556
tubercule1596
tuberculum1597
tuberosity1611
caruncle1615
papilla1671
bulb1716
tuber1741
mammula1815
mamilla1818
tuberculation1820
verruca1822
monticule1874
miliary1880
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > digit > toe > [noun] > parts of
toe-ball1826
toe-tip1839
balla1933
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 196/2 Ball of the cheke, pommeav de la jove.
1547 Act 1 Edw. VI iii, §2 Such Slaue, or loiterer to bee marked on the..ball of the cheeke with an hot iron.
1586 W. Warner Albions Eng. iv. xx. 86 Beating Balles, her vayned Breastes.
1752 T. Carte Gen. Hist. Eng. III. 542 The women painted about the eyes and the Balls of the cheeks with an azure colour.
1848 Jrnl. Ethnol. Soc. 1 207 As these teeth are powerfully developed, the fangs will be strong and divergent, and thus increase the volume of the ball of the cheek.
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 1301 The heel-bone..forms the hind pier of the arch or instep of the foot, the astragalus being the keystone, and the balls of the toes the anterior piers.
2004 Jrnl. Prosthetic Dentistry 91 304/1 The balls of the fingers and thumb are placed between the upper and lower teeth.
b. ball of the thumb n. the fleshy, muscular part of the hand at the base of the thumb; the thenar eminence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > digit > finger > [noun] > thumb > parts of
ball of the hand?c1475
hill of Mars1578
plain of Mars1653
ball of the thumb1701
thumb-ball1821
thenar eminence1899
1701 W. Salmon Polygraphice (ed. 8) II. ix. xxi. 716 The Ball of the Thumb or Mons Veneris..is called Thenar.
1875 F. T. Buckland Log-bk. Fisherman 22 Large muscle which forms the ball of the thumb.
1914 A. H. F. Strangways Music Hindostan ix. 227 After a blow from the full hand the ball of the thumb is slid forward across the drumhead.
2006 New Yorker 16 Jan. 42/1 My mother, before essaying her feeble..tennis serve, used to lick the ball of her right, racquet-hand thumb.
18. Printing. A small cushion, leather-covered or formed of composition, used for inking the type.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > inking equipment > [noun] > inking ball
pumping ball1587
ball1611
pump-ball1611
pumpet1611
pelt1683
pelt balla1828
dauber1850
dabber1854
dab1861
tampion1877
tampon1877
ink-ball1884
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Pompette d' imprimeur, a Printers Pumpet-ball..wherewith hee beates, or layes Inke on, the Formes.
1632 R. Sherwood Dict. in R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues (new ed.) at Ball A Printer's ball, Pompet, or beater.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. Dict. 385 When the Press-man has not Destributed his Balls, some splotches of Inck may lye on..them, which..he delivers upon the Form.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Ball among Printers a kind of wooden tunnel stuffed with wool, contained in a cover of sheep's skin..with which the ink is applied.
1758 R. Dossie Handmaid to Arts II. ii. v. 179 The plate is blackened with the printer's blacking ball made of felt.
1819 Edinb. Encycl. (1830) XIII. 46 When the printing balls are applied, the ink is received by the oiled parts of the stone.
1824 J. Johnson Typographia II. 531 About the year 1815, composition balls were introduced at Weybridge.
1880 Scribner's Monthly Apr. 872/2 The leather rollers which had to be used instead of leather balls did not fairly ink the types.
1917 Eng. Jrnl. 6 333/2 The printer's ball, which Gutenberg used instead of a brayer.
2004 Daily Post (Liverpool) (Nexis) 27 Mar. 14 Eagerly he tried it, inking the surface using a leather ball stuffed with horsehair.
19. A rounded or globular part of various mechanisms or devices, as the nave or hub of a cartwheel, the bob of a pendulum, the bulb of a thermometer, etc.; the rounded projecting part enclosed by the socket in a ball-and-socket joint.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > [noun] > of specific shape
cheek1487
ward1599
screw worm1648
ball1675
swan-neck1686
cone1832
goose-neck1843
spider1860
concave1874
1675 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 10 333 As to the Form of the Instrument, it consists of three parts; the Ball or Globulous part; the Stem or Pipe; and that which holds the Coin.
1693 W. Robertson Phraseologia Generalis (new ed.) 199 The ball of a Cart-wheel; arbuscula.
1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening ii. i. 81 The Semi-circle is mounted upon a Knee-Joint, or Ball, for the Conveniency of turning it every way.
1748 Philos. Trans. 1747 (Royal Soc.) 44 695 The Mercury or Spirit of Wine in the Ball of the Thermometer.
1797 W. H. Hall New Encycl. I. sig. Gg2/1 By moving the barrel B steadily up and down on the rod a, the ball c will become charged with condensed air.
1868 Proc. Royal Soc. 1867–8 16 271 When the velocity increases, the ball of the pendulum presses against the inside of the case.
1946 L. Toft & A. T. J. Kersey Theory of Machines (ed. 5) xi. 332 The Hartnell type of spring-loaded governor..has two balls of 10 lb, each, which revolve in a circle.
2001 Independent 27 Sept. 8/6 Perthes disease is caused by a loss of blood supply to part of the hip joint. The part that is affected is the ‘ball’ portion of the ball-and-socket joint.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > column > [noun] > base > parts of base
plinth1563
torus1563
sub-basec1619
list1663
tore1664
breast1669
supercilium1686
orle1706
orlo1715
ball of a pillar1736
baston1738
batoon1819
griffe1875
1736 R. Ainsworth Thes. Linguæ Latinæ I. at A ball The ball of a pillar, scotia.
V. Extended uses.
21. Mathematics. The set of points in a metric space whose distance from a given point is less than, or less than or equal to, a given constant.
ΚΠ
1953 Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 75 438 Suppose..that O is an open ball with respect to these coordinates.
1961 Soviet Math.: Doklady 1 436 Let Q3 be a ball situated in the euclidean space E3, with boundary S2.
1979 Proc. London Math. Soc. 38 464 We shall frequently make use of covers of sets by closed balls which we denote by C(P,r)={M:|M–P≦r} (r >0).
1997 Colloquium Mathematicum 74 99 A short and elementary proof of a characterization of those extreme points of the closed unit ball in C*-algebras which are unitary.
Phrases
P1. From sense 2 (chiefly figurative).† a. to have the ball: to have the advantage. Obsolete. rare.† b. to catch the ball before it come to the ground, to take the ball before the bound: to anticipate an opportunity. Obsolete.† d. to keep the ball up: to keep a conversation or an undertaking from flagging. Obsolete.† g. Cricket. the balls are over: an umpire's call to signal the end of an ‘over’ (see over n.3 2, over int. 1). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 2580 (MED) And with the help of our soveren lord celestiall, They shull be behynd, & wee shul have þe ball.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > precede or come before [verb (transitive)] > anticipate or forestall > an opportunity
to take the ball before the bound1589
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xix. 195 We do preuent them..and do catch the ball (as they are wont to say) before it come to the ground.
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ iv. ix. 10 It concerns you not to be over hasty herein, not to take the Ball before the Bound.
c. to have the ball at one's foot (feet) (also before one): to have a thing in one's power.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > be in control [verb (intransitive)] > have in one's control
to find (know, etc.) the length (also measure) of a person's foot1580
to have the ball at one's foot (feet) (also before one)?c1625
to pull (also move) the wires1834
?c1625 in E. Beveridge & J. D. Westwood Fergusson's Sc. Prov. (1924) No. 588 He has the ball at his foot.
c1661 Grand Deb. Rev. & Alteration Bk. Common Prayer 24 You have the ball before you, and have the wind and sun, and the power of contending without controll.
1773 A. Leslie in Jrnls. J. Montresor (1881) 531 The Tea Consignees have the Ball at their foot.
c1800 Ld. Auckland Corr. (1862) III. 416 We have the ball at our feet, and if the Government will allow us..the rebellion will be crushed.
1858 A. Trollope Three Clerks I. ix. 183 The ball is at your foot now, but it won't remain there.
1906 A. Quiller-Couch From Cornish Window 127 Relief..came with his election as Fellow of Oriel..and the brilliant young scholar had..the ball at his feet.
2006 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 4 Mar. 12 The ball is at our feet. We have a sizable majority.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > continue doing or keep going in a course of action [verb (intransitive)] > keep anything going
to keep the ball up1693
to keep the ball rolling1770
to keep the pot boiling1808
1693 J. Howe Carnality Relig. Contention ii. 75 A mighty pleasure is taken to see the Saw drawn, and the Ball kept up.
1781 J. Bentham Let. 17–24 Aug. in Corr. (1971) III. 93 I put in a word in now and then to keep the ball up.
1809 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) V. 365 If the Spaniards had not lost two armies lately, we should keep up the ball for another year.
e. to keep the ball rolling: to maintain the pace or dynamism of an idea, undertaking, etc.; (also) to set (or start) the ball rolling: to initiate an idea, undertaking, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > initiating or causing to begin > initiate [verb (intransitive)]
initiate1725
to set (or start) the ball rolling1770
to take the initiative1856
to throw off1866
tee1961
the world > action or operation > continuing > continue doing or keep going in a course of action [verb (intransitive)] > keep anything going
to keep the ball up1693
to keep the ball rolling1770
to keep the pot boiling1808
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > make a beginning in some enterprise
beginc1200
to break the ice?1553
to break (the) ground1709
to set (or start) the ball rolling1770
to strike the first blow1849
1770 J. Chew Let. 4 Apr. in Papers of Sir William Johnson (1931) VII. 524 And so the Ball is to be keept rolling.
1850 W. Colton Deck & Port xiv. 390 That courageous organisation which set the ball of Anglo-Saxon supremacy rolling in California.
1913 ‘A. R. Hope’ Half & Half Trag. 250 These amateurs failed to keep the ball rolling.
1932 Times Lit. Suppl. 28 Jan. 54/2 Since Malthus set the ball rolling, public opinion has undergone profound metamorphoses.
2006 Advertiser (Adelaide) (Nexis) 11 Nov. 40 It will break a 20-year attendance record and set the ball rolling for another summer of rock concert hysteria.
f. the ball is with (someone): the initiative is with (the person specified), it is the turn of (someone) to take action.
ΚΠ
1863 Fraser's Mag. July 101 If we're for action, there's no time to lose... The ball's with Pigot if we hesitate.
1963 Brewer's Dict. Phr. & Fable (ed. 8) 68/1 The ball is with you, or in your court. It is your turn now.
1992 M. Malgonkar Cactus Country 208 The ball is with them. On my part a declaration that the hostilities have ended depends on when the Bengalis stop their terrorists and sabotage.
ΚΠ
1870 New Sporting Mag. 60 271 ‘The Balls are over.’ Some of the umpires of the present day corrupt the four words..into ‘Ver’.
1894 E. B. Y. Christian At Sign of Wkt. 75 For him who falls, His hundred made..There need no tears,..‘the balls Are over’ now.
h. to take up the ball: to take one's turn in conversation; (also) to take the initiative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > conversation > converse [verb (intransitive)] > take turn in conversation or debate
to take the speech1612
to take the floor1804
to get or obtain the floor1816
to take up the ball1873
1873 E. Bulwer-Lytton Parisians II. v. iii. 142 The Duchesse..took up the ball of the conversation.
1878 ‘G. Eliot’ College Breakfast Party in Macmillan's Mag. July 168 Louder Rosencranz Took up the ball.
2002 Social Stud. Sci. 32 805 A less established political organization..took up the ball, accusing the space centre..of colonial practices.
i. to play ball (with): to act fairly (with), to cooperate (with).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > co-operation > co-operate [verb (intransitive)]
conjoin1532
conspirea1538
concurc1550
co-operate1604
coadjute1612
coacta1616
to jump in quilla1616
co-operate1616
co-opere1663
to pull together1772
rally1792
to row in1861
collaborate1871
to play ball (with)1903
to play along1929
play1937
1903 ‘H. McHugh’ Back to Woods vii. 100 Well, if Bunch should refuse to play ball I could send the check back to Uncle Peter.
1930 C. Terrett Only Saps Work 149 The police of Buffalo are too dumb—it would be redundant, I suppose, to say ‘and honest’—to play ball with the hold-up mobs.
1944 L. A. G. Strong Director 31 You play ball with me, and I'll see you don't regret it.
2007 Daily Herald-Tribune (Grande Prairie, Alberta) (Nexis) 18 Jan. 6 Canada..is willing to play ball with the Americans.
j. to have (also keep) one's eye on the ball: to be, or to remain, alert.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > be vigilant or on one's guard [verb (intransitive)]
watcha1225
warea1325
bewarea1400
keepc1400
waitc1400
lay good waitc1440
to lie in great waitc1440
to look out?1553
to look about1599
awake1602
advigilate1623
to keep an eye open1651
perdue1656
to look sharp1680
waken1682
tout1699
to keep a sharp look-out1827
to keep one's weather-eye open1829
to keep (also have) an eye out1833
to keep one's eyes peeled1844
to watch out1845
to skin one's eyes1851
to have (also keep) one's eye on the ball1937
to watch one's back1949
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > listen attentively [phrase] > be alert
to have one's wits about one1622
to be all there1864
he (or she) never misses (does not miss, etc.) a trick1922
to have (also keep) one's eye on the ball1937
to be on the ball1939
1937 Screen Bk. Oct. 102/2 We were forever being told, ‘Keep your eye on the ball’.
1958 Spectator 15 Aug. 230/2 This is an admirably professional book..; its authors keep their eyes on the ball.
2001 N.Y. Times 15 Apr. xiv. 7/5 I have a job to do, to be governor, to keep my eye on the ball.
k. U.S. colloquial. to have (also put, get) (something) on the ball: (Baseball, of a pitcher) to exercise control over the ball, to throw powerfully or accurately; (hence) to have special merit.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > merit > [verb (intransitive)]
to have (also put, get) (something) on the ball1910
1910 Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening News 6 Sept. 6/2 Rucker has more on the ball than any other left hander except Vaughn.
1912 Collier's 13 Apr. 19/1 He's got nothing on the ball—nothing at all.
1935 Mademoiselle Sept. 61/3 The lass has much on the ball.
1987 Washington Post (Nexis) 6 May d1 I can throw and get something on the ball, but it hurts.
2007 Boston (Mass.) Herald (Nexis) 20 May 8 Any [politician]..who has the creativity to get taxpayers to pony up $40,000 for his goodbye note must have something on the ball.
l. colloquial. Chiefly North American (originally U.S.). to carry the ball: to assume responsibility or control; to do all or most of what is required.In quot. 1924 as part of an extended metaphor.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > be in control [verb (intransitive)]
stightlea1375
to have the law in one's own hands1573
boss1856
to run the show1878
to call the tunea1915
to carry the ball1924
to run with the ball1926
to call the shots1967
society > morality > duty or obligation > responsibility > be under responsibility [verb (intransitive)] > assume or accept responsibility
account1572
to stand the racket1789
to take the strain1912
to take the rap1919
to carry the ball1924
1924 Indianapolis Star 25 July Describing Mr. Peters to newspaper correspondents, Mr. Davis said, ‘he was the man who was carrying the ball down the field when it was taken away from him,’ referring to the intervention of President Coolidge, then Governor of Massachusetts, in the police strike situation.
1933 N.Y. Times 5 Jan. 26/2 There's no need of carrying the ball for Sleepy Jimmy oratorically. He can speak for himself.
1938 M. Fessier Wings of Navy (film script) 83 It looks like you'll be carrying the ball from now on.
1973 Times 28 Apr. 5/4 ‘It's harsh to say they are letting us carry the ball…they are small, developing nations which we are trying to assist’, he [sc. an Australian Government Minister] said.
1991 J. DeMont Citizens Irving (1992) viii. 145 He is the steadying influence: he keeps Arthur in check, carries the ball during the touchiest business negotiations and acts as the front man for the empire's surprising new public relations push.
m. colloquial (originally and chiefly North American). to run with the ball and variants: to take control of and advance an enterprise or undertaking, esp. on one's sole initiative.In quot. 1926 as part of an extended metaphor.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > be in control [verb (intransitive)]
stightlea1375
to have the law in one's own hands1573
boss1856
to run the show1878
to call the tunea1915
to carry the ball1924
to run with the ball1926
to call the shots1967
1926 Davenport (Iowa) Democrat & Leader 20 Dec. 4/6 Instead of allowing every sectional representative, ambitious political leader and professional farmers' friend to try to run with the ball, the farmers should build themselves into a solid team which will play together thruout the game until the ball is across the line.
1950 M. L. Mace Growth & Devel. Executives iii. 63 Poor mixer. Tries to run with the ball. Occasionally indulges in obstructive argument.
1963 J. Didion Run River xviii. 189 Although she was no Jinx Falkenburg she had a lot of class and for his money ($75 a week) the ball was hers to run with.
1986 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 8 July 23/3 Mr Graham Kong, who has the Balmoral Hotel.., said the trust offered them the opportunity to ‘run with the ball’.
2003 Toronto Star (Electronic ed.) 3 Feb. When times are good and the public trust is high, you are allowed..to run with the ball. It's called leadership.
n. to take one's eye (also eyes) off the ball: to stop paying attention; to lose concentration.
ΚΠ
1938 Lowell (Mass.) Sun 17 Aug. 13/4 ‘Our rates,’ said Sally, who hadn't taken her eye off the ball, ‘are $6 a day per person.’
1959 Brit. Jrnl. Sociol. 10 43 If the obstacle is left, it will remain as a source of unresolved tension, a nagging sore, a cause for diverting energy and taking one's eye off the ball.
2007 Sun (Nexis) 31 Jan. Perhaps as a result of successful reforms we all relaxed and took our eyes off the ball, believing everything was OK in society.
o. colloquial (originally U.S.). to be on the ball: to be accurate or apt; to be alert.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > listen attentively [phrase] > be alert
to have one's wits about one1622
to be all there1864
he (or she) never misses (does not miss, etc.) a trick1922
to have (also keep) one's eye on the ball1937
to be on the ball1939
1939 W. C. Williams Let. 7 June in W. C. Williams & J. Laughlin Sel. Lett. (1989) 48 The novella by Quevedo..[is] right on the ball.
1961 Listener 28 Dec. 1136/2 The B.B.C. are ‘on the ball’ as the Americans would say.
2005 S. Booth One Last Breath iv. 41 She was sharp, on the ball, a cut above the rest of them in CID.
p. colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.). that's the way (also how) the ball bounces: that is the way it is, ‘that's life’; that is how things turn out. Cf. that's the way the cookie crumbles at cookie n. Phrases 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [phrase] > that's the way it is
that's (about) the size of it1860
that's (about) the strength of it1882
that's the way (also how) the ball bounces1952
that's the way the cookie crumbles1955
1952 G. Mandel Flee Angry Strangers 424 Women can kick that habit easier than men; that's the way the ball bounces.
1978 J. McGahern Getting Through 140 They say the world would be a better place if we looked at ourselves subjectively and objectively at others, but that's never the way the ball bounces.
1994 Science 30 Sept. 2004/4 When I got the word that we weren't going to get [our funding] renewed,..I was surprised, but I figured that's the way the ball bounces.
2000 Washington Times (Nexis) 14 Aug. b1 Heinrichs is depending on both veterans to accept their reduced status if that's how the ball bounces.
q. the ball is in a person's court: the initiative is with a person; that person must be next to act.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > [verb (intransitive)] > it is one's turn next
(one's) staff stands next the door1548
the ball is in a person's court1956
1956 Times 21 June 9 The newcomer to the [U.S.] State Department in short is advised to remember that ‘when the ball is in your court’ it must be ‘returned rapidly over the net’.
1963 Brewer's Dict. Phr. & Fable (ed. 8) 68/1 The ball is with you, or in your court. It is your turn now.
1967 A. Newman Three into Two i. 5 No doubt she would play safe and..the ball would be back in his court.
1984 Financial Times 28 Apr. 4/4 ‘The ball is in his court,’ said Mr Ken Ashton..after a meeting of the union's executive yesterday.
1985 R. C. A. White Admin. of Justice 131 The ball is now back in the plaintiff's court. The plaintiff may..seek further..but, sooner or later, must file a defence to any counterclaim.
2006 Cosmopolitan (U.K. ed.) Aug. 38/4 By asking him out first, you've put the ball in his court.
P2. Phrases with of.
a.
ball of wax n. (a) a rounded mass of wax; (figurative) someone or something easy to mould; (b) slang (originally and chiefly U.S.) a distinct matter, affair, concern, or situation, (one's) interest; the whole ball of wax: everything relating to a particular situation, the entire matter, the whole thing.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > manageability > [noun] > malleability > person or thing
ball of wax1835
putty1924
Silly Putty1958
the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > [noun] > the whole quantity, number, or amount > the whole lot
every whita1450
every stitch?a1500
the devil and all1543
prow and poop1561
Christ-cross-row1579
every snip1598
thread and thrum1600
boodle1625
hair and hoof1705
rag-tag (also rag, tag) and bob-tail1725
tutti quanti1772
lot1791
lock, stock, and barrel1824
stock and fluke1825
the whole boiling1837
box and dice1839
the whole caboodlea1848
sub-cheese1859
the whole kit and boiling (boodle, caboodle, cargo)1859
the whole jingbang1866
the whole hypothec1871
the whole ball of wax1882
the whole (entire) shoot1884
(at) every whip-stitch1888
work1899
issue1919
guntz1958
full monty1979
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits iii. 25 Taking a perfect round ball of wax and pressing it together somewhat on the sides.
1650 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis Pref. Like a Ball of wax, oblongly spread.
1797 Times 21 Feb. 3/3 Out of his stomach was taken a ball of wax, inclosing written orders to General Wurmser.
1835 Times 11 Sept. 5/6 Egypt in his hands was a ball of wax, ready to be moulded into any form.
1882 Atlanta Constit. 25 Apr. 4/4 We notice that John Sherman & Co. have opened a real estate office in Washington. Believing in his heart of hearts that he owns this country, we wil[l] be greatly surprised if Mr. Sherman does not attempt to sell out the whole ball of wax under the hammer.
1954 S. Mead Big Ball of Wax i. 4 Well, why don't we go back to the beginning and roll it all up, as the fellows say, into one big ball of wax.
1983 M. S. Peck People of Lie (1985) vi. 218 Although the cover-up may seem less atrocious than the atrocities, they are part of the same ball of wax.
1991 Independent 30 Mar. (Mag.) 24/2 He liked that kind of stuff... It was his ball of wax.
2001 Toronto Star 12 Jan. a13/2 If we're talking disclosure, let's talk about the whole ball of wax... We want these details out for the public.
b.
ball of muscle n. chiefly Australian and New Zealand a person or animal with a powerful, muscular physique; a fit, energetic person.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily strength > [noun] > strong person
hardyc1475
bruiser1742
ball of musclec1914
Tarzan1921
musclehead1923
heavy1962
c1914 A. B. Paterson Racehorses & Racing Austral. in C. Semmler World of ‘Banjo’ Paterson (1967) 321 The handicap king, Moonlighter, bounds along, a ball of muscle, in last place.
1951 D. Cusack & F. James Come in Spinner 251 ‘Hullo,’ he said pleasantly, ‘you look a ball of muscle tonight’.
1998 Sunday News (Auckland) (Nexis) 15 Feb. 51 Disregarding the other competitors including the black ball of muscle that is Bailey.
P3. Phrases with and.
a.
ball and socket n. (also ball-and-socket joint) a joint formed of a ball or rounded extremity partly enclosed in a cup or socket, which thus has great freedom of play combined with strength; (Anatomy) = enarthrosis n.In quot. 1863 figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > structural parts > joint > types of joint > [noun]
seamc1050
commissure?a1425
arthrodia1565
commissary1577
gomphosis1578
inarticulation1578
suture1578
symphysis1578
synarthrosis1578
adarticulation1615
harmony1615
synchondrosis1615
enarthrosis1634
harmonia1657
mortise-articulation1658
ball and socket1664
synneurosis1676
syssarcosis1676
ginglymus1678
syndesmosis1726
ginglymus1733
hinge-joint1802
screw-joint1810
schindylesis1830
amphiarthrosis1835
pivot joint1848
synosteosis1848
synostosis1848
indigitation1849
screwed-surfaced joint1875
thorough-joint1889
1661 J. Brown Descr. & Use Joynt-rule xvi. 86 If the Sector be fitted with a staff, and a ball-socket, you may turn it either horizontal, or perpendicular, and so take any Angle with it, very conveniently and readily.]
1664 R. Hooke Let. 21 Oct. in R. T. Gunther Early Sci. in Oxf. (1930) VI. 206 I have not been able to send down the ball and socket you desired.
1741 A. Monro Anat. Human Bones (ed. 3) 42 Enarthrosis, or the Ball and Socket..when a large Head is received into a deep Cavity.
1809 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 99 182 There is a regular ball and socket joint between every two vertebræ.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters 159 By..impenetrable assurance, and a ball-and-socket morality.
1919 L. H. Morrison Oil Engines xxiii. 407 Primm Oil Engine Fuel Nozzle... The Primm makes use of a yoke connection which admits the fuel into the nozzle at one side, the junction being a ball and socket joint.
1971 C. Bonington Annapurna South Face App. F. 286 A special clamp to fit on the head of an ice axe with a ball-and-socket attachment for the camera.
2000 Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Oct. 101/2 Instead of having smooth, well-formed ball and socket joints between the femur and pelvis, dysplastic dogs have malformed joints.
b.
ball and claw n. attributive. = claw-and-ball n. at claw n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > [adjective] > types of furniture generally > as having specific parts > type of foot
ball and claw1875
claw-and-ball1902
1875 Times 19 Apr. 8/5 A large peg tankard on ball and claw feet.
1904 E. Singleton French & Eng. Furnit. 237 In not one of Chippendale's drawings of chairs does the simple ball-and-claw foot occur.
1960 H. Hayward Connoisseur's Handbk. Antique Collecting 23/1 Ball and claw foot (or claw and ball), terminal to a cabriole leg...In use on English furniture from the early until the late years of the 18th cent.
1990 Do It Yourself Apr. 13/1 A set of ball and claw feet for your traditional tub.
P4.
three golden balls n. (also three balls; in early use also three blue balls) the sign of a pawnbroker.The sign is supposed by some to be derived from the coats of arms of the wealthy Medici family, which features a number (varying at different periods) of circles or balls.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > moneylending > [noun] > pawnshop > sign of
three golden balls1748
society > trade and finance > trading place > place where retail transactions made > [noun] > shop > shop-front > sign or signboard > specific
ale stake1396
ale-pole1523
pole1533
three golden balls1748
cigar-store Indian1926
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xvi. 131 He..unbuckled his hanger, and shewing me the sign of three blue balls, desired me to..pawn it.
1788 V. Knox Winter Evenings II. v. iv. 129 Pawn at some distant house, known by the sign of the three blue [1790 (ed. 2) golden] balls.
1839 T. Hood Fugitive Lines on Pawning Watch ix, in Hood's Own 236 I've gone to a dance for my supper; And now I must go to Three Balls!
1861 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock 180 The brethren of the three golden balls.
1946 Bull. Business Hist. Soc. 20 117 The sign of the three balls is a common sight in the poorer sections of many American cities.
2006 Daily Mail (Nexis) 9 Oct. 19 Scotland has seen the number of pawnbrokers represented internationally by the sign of three golden balls increase by more than 30 per cent in the past decade.
P5. From sense 12a.† a. to make balls of: to bungle, make a mess of; = to make a balls of at balls n. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > be unskilled in [verb (transitive)] > bungle
botch1530
bungle1530
mumble1588
muddle1605
mash1642
bumble?1719
to fall through ——1726
fuck1776
blunder1805
to make a mull of1821
bitch1823
mess1823
to make a mess of1834
smudge1864
to muck up1875
boss1887
to make balls of1889
duff1890
foozle1892
bollocks1901
fluff1902
to make a muck of1903
bobble1908
to ball up1911
jazz1914
boob1915
to make a hash of1920
muff1922
flub1924
to make a hat of1925
to ass up1932
louse1934
screw1938
blow1943
to foul up1943
eff1945
balls1947
to make a hames of1947
to arse up1951
to fuck up1967
dork1969
sheg1981
bodge1984
1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang at Balls ‘To make balls of it’, to make a mistake, to get into trouble.
b. slang (originally U.S.).
(a) to have (got) by the balls: to have at one's mercy or in one's power; to put at a disadvantage or in an unfavourable position.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > have complete control over
windc1374
to bring (a person) above the thumb1469
to have to mastery1480
to have at one's beck1530
to turn and wind1557
to bring any one to, or have him at, one's bent1575
to turn over the thumb1603
to lead in a stringc1616
to hold at school1647
to wind (a person, etc.) round one's (little) finger1698
to twirl (a person) round one's finger1748
to twist (a person) round one's finger1780
to play with ——1827
to have (one) on toast1886
to have (got) by the balls1918
to have the wood onc1926
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > have or get (someone) at a disadvantage
to have at avail1470
to catch, have, hold, take (one) at (a or the) vantagec1510
to gain of1548
to be to the forehand with1558
to have (take) on (in, at) the lurch1591
to get the sun of1598
to have (also get) a good hand against1600
to take (have, etc.) at a why-nota1612
to weather on or upon1707
to have the laugh on a person1767
to have a (or the) pull of (also over, on)1781
to get to windward of1783
to have the bulge on1841
to give points to1854
to get (have) the drop on1869
to hold over1872
to have an (or the) edge on1896
to get (also have) the goods on1903
to get (or have) the jump on1912
to have (got) by the balls1918
1918 N. Sissle Let. 14 Oct. in R. Kimball & W. Bolcom Reminiscing with Sissle & Blake (1973) 69/1 Jim and I have P—— by the balls in a bigger way than anyone you know.
1950 P. Larkin Let. 26 Jan. in Sel. Lett. (1992) 157 I had been wondering what you were doing & am sorry to hear life has had you by the balls.
1975 J. A. Kangas & G. F. Solomon Psychol. of Strength 56 Her sick headaches have her husband by the balls.
2000 Esquire Aug. 84/1 As a Harvard Law student, you've got the world by the balls.
(b) to grab (also take) by the balls: to take control of, to overwhelm; to engage forcibly or decisively with.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > subjecting or subjugation > subject [verb (transitive)] > bring under control
temec897
subdue1483
subjugate?1518
to hold or have in leash1564
school1579
to saddle and bridle1646
to grab (also take) by the balls1934
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or overwhelm
overcomeeOE
overgangOE
overnimOE
overswivec1175
foldc1275
overgoc1275
to bear downc1330
oversetc1330
outrayc1390
overleada1393
overreach?a1425
overwhelmc1425
to whelve overc1440
overruna1475
surprise1474
overpress1489
surbatea1500
overhale1531
overbear1535
overcrow1550
disable1582
surgain1586
overpower1597
overman1609
to come over ——1637
to run down1655
overpower1667
compel1697
to get over ——1784
overget1877
to grab (also take) by the balls1934
1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer 180 Paris..grabs you by the balls.
1992 New Mus. Express (BNC) 9 May 18 Women have grabbed rock by the balls.
2002 LA Weekly (Nexis) 10 May 15 It's like working at a tabloid—you take a subject by the balls and play with it until you become callous.
c. slang (originally U.S.). to bust (also break) (a person's) balls. [Perhaps after Italian scocciare le palle to bother someone, lit. ‘to break someone's balls’ (or perhaps ‘to bother someone's balls’) (a1863), also rompere le palle, lit. ‘to break someone's balls’ (1972).]
(a) To harangue, berate, or harass (a person) verbally. Also in weakened use: to tease or mock (a person). Cf. ball-breaker n., ball-busting adj. Cf. also to bust (also break) (a person's) chops at chop n.2 Additions a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > speech-making > make a speech [verb (intransitive)] > harangue or declaim
spout1556
harangue1660
declaim1735
bloviate1845
to bust (a person's) balls1946
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (intransitive)] > scold
scold1377
chide1393
channerc1480
ratea1529
chowre1567
flite1568
to scold it outa1592
to speak or look daggers1603
snub1694
to read the Riot Act1784
row1843
rouse1896
roust1901
to bust (a person's) balls1946
to bust on1961
1946 A. Hayes All thy Conquests 183 Scusi, signorina. But who is the driver, you or I?.. Please! Don't tell me how to drive and don't break my balls.
1955 M. Puzo Dark Arena xvi. 219 You used to break my balls about it when we were G.I.'s.
1988 S. Lee Do the Right Thing (film script, 2nd draft) in S. Lee & L. Jones Do the Right Thing (1989) 235 Pino. You listening to me? Vito. Stop busting my balls. I said I'm listening ten fucking times already.
1995 Inline July 47/2 I think Arlo was just busting that preacher's balls, dudes.
1999 S. Turow Personal Injuries 389 She's busting my balls. Hell hath no fury. She's sky-high cause I gave her two weeks' notice.
2007 J. P. Landry Hazard 666 lxiii. 410 He was smiling; they were busting each other's balls. Peter knew who the guilty party was.
(b) Esp. as a threat: to injure (a person) physically; to strike (a man) in the testicles.
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the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > do harm [verb (intransitive)] > to a person
to burn (another's) fingers1865
to bust (a person's) balls1948
1948 A. Marcus Straw to make Brick iii. 105 Break it up, or I'll bust your balls with my boot.
1952 H. Ellson Golden Spike xi. 76 Paulie struck him in the mouth... ‘That's nothing to what you're going to get; I'm going to bust your balls for you!’
1974 H. S. Thompson Great Shark Hunt (1979) 312 ‘Those dirty bastards!’ he screams. ‘We'll break their balls!’
2004 G. WARREN Drive me Crazy vii. 84 You mess with Alexandra Forrest and I'll break your balls.
d. slang (originally U.S.). to bust (also break) one's balls: to exert oneself to the utmost; to work very hard. Cf. to bust (also break) one's chops at chop n.2 Additions b.
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the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself or make an effort [verb (intransitive)] > make a great effort
to move (also stir) heaven and earth1580
to swelt one's heart1584
to sweat blood1911
to bust (also rupture) a gut1912
to fall over backwards1932
to bust (also break) one's balls1968
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself or make an effort [verb (intransitive)] > do one's utmost
to do (also lay) one's mightc1175
to do, make one's wisec1290
to do (also make) one's powerc1390
to hold (also keep) foot withc1438
to do one's force?c1450
to do or die1487
to do one's endeavour(sc1500
to do the best of one's power1523
to do (also try) one's best1585
to do one's possible1792
to pull out all the stops1927
to bust (also break) one's balls1968
1958 in L. Atwell Private 45 In camp we busted our b—s learning how to climb over a mountain so they can't see you.]
1968 W. Stevens Gunner viii. 95 We're breaking our balls to get out of here.
1988 M. Bishop Unicorn Mountain (1989) i. 10 I'm just trying to ask you if you think I did those things—ran around like that, busting my balls.
2002 P. Mendelsohn Where do Flies go in Winter? 145 I've been breaking my balls to stay ahead of an army of tails in Berlin, that's all!
Compounds
C1. attributive and objective in sense 2a: ‘of or relating to a ball or ball game’, ‘used in or for a ball game’, as ball-alley, ball control, ball field, ball ground, ball player, ball-playing, ball skill, ball team, etc.Earliest in ball play n., ball green n. at Compounds 2.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > player
ball player1440
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > area for play
ball greenc1260
ball ground1440
ball court1671
spheristerion1764
Hong Kong1863
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > characteristics of team ball games > [noun] > skill
ball control1440
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > [noun] > playing
ball-playing1440
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > baseball player > [noun]
ball player1440
baseball player1856
baseballist1866
baseballer1867
hardballer1930
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > baseball ground > [noun]
ball field1440
park1867
ballpark1871
baseball diamond1871
diamond1875
ballyard1897
orchard1913
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > ninepins or ten-pins > [noun] > alley
ball-alley1440
alley1541
bowling-alley1555
bowl-alley1628
ninepin yard1665
ninepin alley1682
ten-pin alley1835
lane1960
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > baseball player > [noun] > team
ball team1440
field1868
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 22 Balpleyere, Pililudius, lipidulus, ludipilus.
1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston i. 15 As ball-players with the Ball. When the Ball is once vp, they labour to keepe it vp.
1698 M. Henry Acct. Life P. Henry iii. 31 I have neither heard of their being in the Ale-house on our Lords Day, nor Ball-playing that day.
1708 E. Hatton New View London I. 4/2 Ball Alley, a Passage from Wheelers Str. (Spittlefields) to Pye Corner there.]
1772 D. Taitt in N. D. Mereness Trav. Amer. Colonies (1916) 546 [I] then went to a Ball ground..where the Eutchie and Geehaw people were playing Ball.
1799 C. Ludger tr. A. Kotzebue Peevish Man ii. iii. 32 (stage direct.) The two old men begin to mimic ball-playing.
1802 A. Ellicott Jrnl. (1803) 291 A convenient ball-alley was prepared.
1827 T. L. McKenney Sketches Tour to Lakes 181 The little naked Indian boys..were..playing ball...This ball-playing is not unlike our game of bandy.
1837 J. D. Whitney in E. T. Brewster Life & Lett. J. D. W. (1909) 20 For my part, I could never make a ball player.
1856 Spirit of Times 13 Dec. 245/1 The Club presented their President with an elegant silver Pitcher, with a view of the ball ground carved out upon it.
1865 Englishman's Mag. Oct. 313 Ball-alleys and racquet-courts were the exception.
1867 Ball Players' Chron. 13 June 4/2 Let us train up assemblages to good behavior on ball-fields.
1888 Outing July 356/1 The personnel of the average professional ball team..has improved.
1899 H. B. Cushman Hist. Indians 368 The training of their young mean consisted of..War, hunting, and ball-playing.
1905 Washington Post 25 June 4/1 Grouches against the umpire on the ball field must be overlooked.
1910 Daily Mail in B. James Eng. v Scotl. (1969) iv. 98 [Templeton showed] uncanny ball control.
1928 Sunday Disp. 2 Sept. 1/1 Clever ball control is returning to our football enclosures.
1936 J. Dos Passos Big Money 17 At Exeter he was head of his class and captain of the ballteam.
1947 Redbk. Oct. 100/2 Two of his uncles were bush-league ballplayers.
1948 Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press 26 Mar. 3/2 Grade one displayed the ball skills which include bouncing, passing, and roll-passing the ball in time to music.
1957 Amer. Anthropologist 59 910 Several ethnologists..see the origin of ball-playing in magical rites.
1979 Washington Post 21 Mar. d4/1 Askew..possesses excellent ball skills and the physical size that scorers need to take the punishment from defenders.
2007 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 23 Apr. d1 A new ball field will be better and safer for kids.
C2. † ball-bellows n. Obsolete a hollow metal apparatus formerly used for producing a steam blast.† ball-drawer n. Obsolete rare an instrument for extracting artillery balls from fire-arms; also figurative.† ball-mine n. English regional Obsolete (in Staffordshire) ironstone found as fossiliferous nodules; cf. ballstone n.† ball nail n. Obsolete Printing (historical in later use) a nail used to fasten the covering of a printer's ball.† ball-piled adj. Obsolete rare that consists of balls arranged in a pile.† ball pome n. Obsolete rare = ball peen n.† ball practice n. Obsolete artillery practice, firing practice.† ball-proof adj. Obsolete impervious to penetration or damage by projectiles from firearms (cf. bullet-proof adj. at bullet n.1 Compounds 1b).† ball vein n. Obsolete a stratum of iron ore containing nodules, formerly mined in Sussex.† ball-weed n. Obsolete knapweed ( Centaurea nigra); cf. earlier boll-weed n. at boll n.1 Compounds.
ball bat n. North American †(a) = ball stick n. (obsolete); (b) a baseball bat.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > instrument for hitting ball
clubc1450
battler?c1650
ball stick1775
pommel1845
ball bat1850
spat1866
paddle1922
1850 Stryker's Amer. Reg. & Mag. July 333 Taking it [sc. the ball] upon the deer skin net-work of the ball bat, and carrying it in a race toward the gate.
1852 H. R. Schoolcraft Information Indian Tribes U.S. II. 78 The game commences by one of the old men throwing the ball in the air; when all rush forward to catch it in their ball-bats.
1876 Manitoba Daily Free Press 2 June The lovely little girl of five decoyed into the belfry of the church and beaten to death with a ball-bat.
1929 Social Forces 8 94/1 A boy..was carrying a ball-bat when the prohibition against playing ball was in force.
2002 Frederick (Maryland) News-Post 4 Apr. b13/4 (advt.) Signed Yankees ball bat.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > metalworking equipment > [noun] > forging equipment > bellows
bellowsa800
fire blower?a1440
fire bellows?a1500
ball-bellows1634
fire fan1875
1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. xi. Pref. 415 Ball-bellowes..made of brasse hollow and round; and have a very small hole in them.
ball boy n. Sport (esp. Tennis) a boy or man who retrieves balls which go out of play during a match, and provides new balls when necessary (cf. ball girl n.).
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > [noun] > ball boy
ball boy1903
ball girl1923
1903 Westm. Gaz. 29 Aug. 6/1 A black moving surface, over which red-coated ball boys dart.
1968 Observer 28 Apr. 22/2 The tall, dark Gonzales..telling an industrious ball-boy to calm down.
2007 Evening Post (Nottingham) (Nexis) 14 Apr. 22 Trials for ball boys and girls will be held tomorrow for the Nottingham Tennis Open.
ball carrier n. Sport (originally American Football) a player who handles the ball in an offensive play, or whose role is to do this.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > player > types of
striker1699
kicker1829
non-striker1842
feeder1844
stopper1847
defender1851
hand-in1875
hand-out1875
back1880
attacker1884
field general1895
ball carrier1902
ball-handler1912
ball-winner1972
shotmaker1974
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > American football > [noun] > types of player
side tackle1809
nose guard1852
rusher1877
goalkicker1879
quarterback1879
runner1880
quarter1883
full back1884
left guard1884
snap-back1887
snapper-back1887
running back1891
tackle1891
defensive end1897
guard1897
interferer1897
receiver1897
defensive back1898
defensive tackle1900
safety man1901
ball carrier1902
defensive lineman1902
homebrew1903
offensive lineman1905
lineman1907
returner1911
signal caller1915
rover1916
interference1920
punt returner1926
pass rusher1928
tailback1930
safety1931
blocker1935
faker1938
scatback1946
linesman1947
flanker1953
platoon player1953
corner-back1955
pulling guard1955
split end1955
return man1957
slot-back1959
strong safety1959
wide receiver1960
line-backer1961
pocket passer1963
tight end1963
run blocker1967
wideout1967
blitzer1968
1902 Los Angeles Daily Times 3 Jan. 11/1 [They] are the strongest of Stanford's ball carriers, either against the line or around the ends.
1934 H. O. Crisler & E. E. Wieman Pract. Football vii. 86 The ball carrier is more easily stopped in the hole than anywhere else.
2004 Rugby World Feb. 74/1 The Laws Laboratory allowed a player to tackle the ball-carrier in a maul between the shoulders and waist.
ball cartridge n. a gun or pistol cartridge containing a ball or bullet; (as a mass noun) ammunition of this kind.
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society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > cartridge > type of cartridge
ball cartridge1768
blank-cartridge1826
wire cartridge1829
Schultze cartridge1885
centre-fire1889
blank1896
1768 B. Cuthbertson Syst. Compl. Managem. Battalion of Infantry 139 The Ball Cartridges should be made by the Pioniers, under the direction of the Quarter-master-serjeant, at the rate of forty five to a pint of powder.
1803 C. Abbot Diary Aug. in Diary & Corr. (1861) I. 451 A quantity of pikes, of ball-cartridges and of combustibles.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple III. xviii. 237 The captain..ordered the marines to load with ball-cartridge.
1896 Geogr. Jrnl. 7 174 I..put in a ball-cartridge, and placed the gun behind a rock and fired it.
1945 Daily Courier (Connellsville, Pa.) 10 Dec. 7/1 The standard caliber .39 Army cartridge is called a ball cartridge, yet the bullet itself is an elongated streamlined cylinder.
2004 St. Louis Business Jrnl. (Nexis) 19 Nov. 1 Winchester is one of the world's leading suppliers of M855 ammunition, a 5.56-millimeter ball cartridge used by the U.S. military.
ball catch n. a catch for a door or other fitting which functions by means of a spring-loaded ball pressing against a striking-plate.
ΚΠ
1940 Chambers's Tech. Dict. Ball catch, a door-fastening in which a spring-loaded ball, projecting through a smaller hole, engages with a striking plate.
1990 Pract. Householder Apr. 19/3 Screw the brass drop handle in position. A ball catch may also be fitted.
2002 Better Homes & Gardens Wood June 72/2 Spring-loaded ball catches keep the legs locked.
ball clay n. a very adhesive, plastic clay; spec. a fine-textured kaolinitic clay, found in south-western England and in other parts of the world, which is used in the manufacture of earthenware; a type of this.
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society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > clay > [noun] > for making pottery > types of
white claya1387
bottle clay1686
porcelain clay1690
blue clay1698
tasco1726
kaolin1728
capital1738
unaker1744
saggar1786
ball clay1811
Cornish clay1829
china-clay1840
Poole clay1875
bleaching-clay1881
pâte1890
virgin clay1891
1811 W. Aiton Gen. View Agric. Ayr 27 If steril and adhesive, it is sometimes termed strong or ball-clay.
1865 E. Meteyard Life J. Wedgwood iv. 140 The imported clay was used as a wash, previously to firing. This was called ‘Ball clay’..from being made up in heaps weighing sixty or seventy pounds each.
1903 Daily Mail 7 Sept. 5/5 They are the only mines in the world that produce the ‘ball clay’, without which the manufacture of earthenware is impossible.
1968 Radio Times 2 May 17/2 Digging for valuable ball clay makes ugly scars across the Devon countryside.
2000 Ceramic Rev. Jan. 56/1 Materials like feldspars, ball clays,..etc., are mined from different locations and so the composition can vary.
ball club n. Sport (chiefly North American) (a) a club or bat used to strike a ball (now rare); (b) an association whose members meet to play or promote ball games; a sports team, esp. a baseball team.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > [noun] > club
ball club1789
1789 C. Vallancey Vocab. Lang. Forth & Bargie in Trans. Royal Irish Acad. 1788 2 Antiquities 39 The ball-clubs they rattled, the ball rose and flew.
1822 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 June 3/5 The grounds are so disposed as to afford sufficient room and accommodation for Quoit and Cricket, and other Ball Clubs.
1897 Evening Herald (Syracuse, N.Y.) 7 July 10/3 When asked by Police Justice Thomson what he was going to do with the ball club that he carried: ‘Oh, I only had that as a persuader.’
1985 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 10 Oct. a24/6 Most of the new tickets..were returned to the ballclub by out-of-town baseball organizations this week.
2007 Lancaster (Pa.) New Era (Nexis) 23 Apr. c1 We're a good ball club that's going to play the game the right way.
ball court n. an area (such as a paved yard) for the playing of ball games; (Archaeology) as a feature of the remains of the Maya civilization in Central America.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > area for play
ball greenc1260
ball ground1440
ball court1671
spheristerion1764
Hong Kong1863
1671 T. Alleine Life & Death J. Alleine ii. 20 With no other sweat of the Brow, than what's provok'd in a Ball Court.
1677 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Oxford-shire 17 The Ball-Court at Corpus Christi Coll.
1721 N. Amhurst Terræ-filius 179 The old ball-court, where I have had many a game at fives.
1799 C. Cooke Battleridge I. ix. 189 When in the coach his delight increased..as they drove through an old ball court, at Battleridge.
1867 G. M. Hopkins in Lett. & Jrnls. (1959) I. 159 The boys flooded the ball-court and slid and skated on it.
1912 J. W. Fewkes in 28th Ann. Rep. Bureau Amer. Ethnol. 1906–7 93 A long court extends across the whole south end of the compound. Its form suggests a ball court or course for foot races.
1959 Listener 12 Mar. 447/2 Huge pyramids, temples, and sacred ball courts are scattered over an area half a mile square [at Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico].
2007 Idaho Falls (Idaho) Post Reg. (Nexis) 7 Jan. f1 Plainly visible etchings on the walls of The Great Ballcourt within the ruins seem to corroborate the story.
ball doctoring n. Sport (esp. Cricket) = ball tampering n.
ΚΠ
1939 Ada (Okla.) Evening News 18 May 10/2 (heading) Frankhouse warned on ball doctoring.
1992 Indiamail 22 Sept. 1/5 A compliment for a cricketer from the sub-continent is as rare in Britain these days as Sir Gary Sobers's six sixes in an over, with the ball-doctoring controversy blazing the tabloid pages.
2001 Northern Echo (Electronic ed.) 8 June He has always been at the forefront of ball doctoring and Channel 4 had a clear close-up of him illegally running his thumb nail across the ball.
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society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > equipment for use with firearms > [noun] > ball or wad extractor
screw1562
tireball1591
worm1591
wad hook1611
ball-drawer1844
1844 Queen's Regulations & Orders Army 96 One Ball-drawer to each Rifle.
1865 C. T. Brooks tr. J. P. F. Richter Hesperus I. xxi. 416 One could not say, ‘It is cloudy, warm, the needle has pricked me,’ &c., without his taking this as a ball-drawer, to extract his heart from the fire-arm of his breast.
ball-firing n. now rare the firing of ball ammunition; artillery practice.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > management of artillery > [noun] > discharge of artillery
cannon shot1567
cannonrya1583
cannoning1583
girding?c1600
cannoneering1699
playing1711
ball-firing1783
1783 Proposed Regulations Gen. Court (Gen. Assistants Honourable Artillery Co. London) 2 Apr. (single sheet) Two of the said Field-Days be held in the Country; one at least to practice Ball-firing.
1806 Times 7 Oct. 2/4 The 5th Regiment..will march from thence to practise ball firing.
1886 Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 13 Dec. 1/7 The Militia..hurried through a course of ball firing which generally produced the most miserable results.
1925 tr. in C. M. Wilbur & J. L. How Documents Communism in China 1918–1927 (1956) vi. 344 When we tested their ball-firing, we found the average infantry artillery student definitely inferior to students in Russian schools.
1985 H. Strachan From Waterloo to Balaclava ii. 30 In one company's ball firing, fifty bayonet springs were broken and a further twenty-five bayonets came loose.
ball float n. a more or less spherical float (float n. 9a) which operates a valve or ballcock.
ΚΠ
1925 Jrnl. Philos. 22 151 The water level in a tank equipped with a ball float.
1978 E. Gundrey Simple Plumbing 42 Hang a ‘sacrificial anode’ low in the middle of the water (but not touching the ball float).
1991 G. Keillor WLT: Radio Romance vii. 53 Then Roy's attention wavered..and he drifted along to something else—the windmill, the lithograph, the ball-float toilet.
ball-flower n. Architecture an ornament in the shape of a ball enclosed within three or four petals of a flower, often inserted in a hollow moulding; frequently attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > architectural ornament > [noun] > other ornaments
pommela1300
crest1430
finial1448
balloon1592
brattishingc1593
knob1610
cartouche1611
ogive1611
fret1626
galace1663
acroterion1664
paternoster1728
semi-urn1742
patera1776
purfling1780
sailing course1807
vesica piscis (also piscium)1809
antefix1819
vesica1820
garland1823
stop1825
Aaron's rod1830
headwork1831
Vitruvian scroll1837
hip knob1838
stelea1840
ball-flower1840
notch-head1843
brandishing1846
buckle1848
cat's-head1848
bucrane1854
cresting1869
semi-ball1875
canephorus1880
crest-board1881
wave pattern1905
husk1934
foliate head1939
green man1939
1840 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. 3 2/1 In the mouldings of the parapet the ball flower ornament is again introduced.
1845 Archaeol. Jrnl. 1 100 The Chapel in Marten's tower with its ball-flower moulding.
1862 Archæologia 39 182 The ball-flower pattern..carries down the building so late as 1340.
1926 Times 8 Apr. 16/1 (caption) The damage to the rich ball-flower ornamentation is most marked.
2003 Jrnl. Soc. Archit. Historians 62 18/2 A console frieze with ball-flowers on the crusader entrance to Calvary.
ball fringe n. a decorative fringe (on clothing, furnishing, etc.) consisting of ball-shaped materials hung at intervals; frequently as a mass noun.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > covers or hangings > [noun] > hangings > types of
crespine?1533
flock hangingsa1657
ball fringe1812
lambrequin1883
wall-hangings1896
1812 Edinb. Advertiser 19 June 4/1 A round robe of jaconet..finished at the feet with ball fringe.
1892 ‘M. Field’ Sight & Song 24 Gems, amulets and fine ball-fringes keep Their raiment from austereness.
1909 H. G. Wells Tono-Bungay (U.K. ed.) i. ii. 64 Stuff with ball fringe along the mantel.
2006 Baltimore Sun (Nexis) 17 Dec. n4 Visitors surely will chuckle at a pair of white guest towels edged in scarlet ball fringe.
ball girl n. Sport (esp. Tennis) a girl or woman who retrieves balls which go out of play during a match, and provides new balls when necessary (cf. ball boy n.).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > [noun] > ball boy
ball boy1903
ball girl1923
1923 Times 21 Mar. 6/5 Certain matches were disfigured by execrable umpiring of the line. Praise is due to the ball-girls.
1996 Courier-Jrnl. (Louisville, Kentucky) 25 Nov. a6/3 One of my daughters has been a ball girl for the University of Louisville's women's basketball and volleyball teams.
ball green n. now rare a green on which ball games are played; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > area for play
ball greenc1260
ball ground1440
ball court1671
spheristerion1764
Hong Kong1863
c1260Balgrene [see sense 2a].
1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem i. 9 His beard was long, and red, and thin, Making a Ball-green on his Chin: As trees do sometime in a Wood, Where Horse and Oxen gather food.
1799 W. Forbes Seal of Little Bk. 26 The horses were at an ordinary trot along the ball green of Peterhead.
1931 Amer. Hist. Rev. 37 6 Several others..came to the ball green of the lands of Campbell.
ball handle n. a rounded handle or grip; a handle with a ball-shaped knob on the end.
ΚΠ
1683 J. Moxton Mechanick Exercises II. xxiv. xii. 316 Pressing..upon the Ball-handles from-wards his Hands.
1845 J. R. Peters Misc. Remarks Articles Chinese Mus. Marlboro' Chapel, Boston xxv. 142 Ivory letter stamp, with ball handle.
1951 H. C. Town in Gen. Engin. Workshop Pract. (ed. 2) iii. 112/2 To index the turret, the ball handle is revolved.
2001 J. M. Wild Wheel & Pinion Cutting in Horol. (2003) xi. 190 A ball handle gives rapid and easy control of the traversing.
ball-handler n. Sport (originally and chiefly U.S., esp. in Basketball) a player whose role is to manoeuvre the ball toward the goal, basket, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > player > types of
striker1699
kicker1829
non-striker1842
feeder1844
stopper1847
defender1851
hand-in1875
hand-out1875
back1880
attacker1884
field general1895
ball carrier1902
ball-handler1912
ball-winner1972
shotmaker1974
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > basketball > [noun] > types of player
centre1893
guard1897
ball-handler1912
rebound man1922
rebounder1926
dunker1942
point1960
point guard1969
role-player1977
tweener1978
1912 Anaconda (Montana) Standard 16 June (Sporting section) 2/1 The coach will be up against it for a ball-handler next year unless the Detroiter is used there.
1943 Esquire Nov. 69/1 Albert, a superb ball-handler, a magician with the ball, and a gifted field general.
1992 Basketball Digest Apr. 8/1 Skiles has a significant edge in scoring, passing, and leadership ability, and he is equal to, if not better than, Paxon as a ballhandler.
ball handling n. Sport manoeuvring or control of a ball in a game, esp. considered as a tactical skill.
ΚΠ
1905 Washington Post 21 May Goodman was on the mound for the winners, and put up a style of ball handling that is hard to beat.
1976 Webster's Sports Dict. 27/2 Ball handling is usually considered an offensive technique by which the ball is maneuvred into position to score or to a player who will attempt a shot.
2002 N. McDonell Twelve ii. 7 The wiry white kid is six feet tall and has the..worst ball-handling skills.
ball-headed adj. that has a head or top shaped like a ball.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [adjective] > spherical or globular > having spherical head or point
ball-pointed1827
ball-headed1829
1829 W. N. Glascock Sailors & Saints 178 An old ball-headed buffer, with an eye like a firrit.
1902 How to make Useful Things 48/2 With a ball-headed hammer strike the petals of the discs.
1957 R. Lister Decorative Wrought Ironwork ii. 48 Ball-headed set pins (that is ball-headed bolts) can give a decorative appearance to a bolted joint.
2006 Washington Times (Electronic ed.) 9 Apr. They're pierced onto ball-headed jig hooks, the hook barb totally exposed.
ball hitch n. (on a motor vehicle) a type of tow bar surmounted by a metal ball, to which the tow rope or drawbar of a caravan, trailer, etc., is secured; a corresponding fitting on the drawbar of a caravan or trailer.
ΚΠ
1934 Mansfield (Ohio) News-Jrnl. 1 Dec. 10/2 (advt.) 2-Wheel trailer, ball type hitch.]
1935 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 17 Nov. t5/5 (advt.) Trailer with ball hitch.
1989 Mail on Sunday Camping & Caravanning 48/2 The height of the ball coupling bears a relationship to the height of the actual ballhitch of the car.
2005 Safety & Health in Ports (Internat. Labour Office) vi. 318 Particular attention should be paid to vehicles towing caravans, which should always use proper ball hitches.
ball hockey n. North American (chiefly Canadian) a form of hockey with rules resembling those of ice hockey, but played with a ball, on foot, on a non-slip surface; cf. street hockey n. at street n. and adj. Compounds 4.
ΚΠ
1962 Evening Tribune (Albert Lea, Minnesota) 4 Dec. Ball hockey, a game similar to the variety played on ice.
1976 Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ont.) 11 May 6/4 Yes, that's right, it's a game of ball hockey and, as the name implies, it's played with a ball instead of a puck.
2004 A. W. Gunson Voy. of Maiatla with Naked Canad. 11 While other kids played ball-hockey on the street, I was vicariously living a cruiser's life.
ball joint n. a ball-and-socket joint.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > other parts > [noun] > devices for securing or uniting parts
key1434
chevel-bolt1480
strop1573
gimbals1577
gimmals1598
gimmera1603
strap1620
bridle1667
key band1735
screw-joint1810
locking plate1812
safety pin1822
king bolt1839
square coupling1845
holding-down bolt1846
ball joint1849
pinholder1854
knuckle-joint1860
bayonet-joint1870
elbow1874
fox-key1874
split-pin1875
cotter-pin1881
elbow-joint1881
banjo-frame1888
holding-down pin1892
holding-down ring1899
feather1908
banjo union1922
1849 Sci. Amer. 15 Dec. 100/3 Yerger's Artificial Leg... the knee is a true ball joint..working into its circular skeleton socket, upon two fine centre steel pins, one at each side.
1930 Engineering 7 Feb. 177/2 The connections with the headers made with ball joints.
1962 Which? Car Suppl. Oct. 139/2 Grease from lower front suspension ball joints.
2001 Today's Pilot Feb. 87/4 The microphone boom can be made flexible or it can be articulated using military-style metal ball-joint swivels.
ball kid n. Sport (esp. Tennis) a young person who retrieves balls which go out of play during a match, and provides new balls when necessary; a ball boy or ball girl (see ball boy n., ball girl n.).
ΚΠ
1982 Women's Sports Aug. 20/1 She was outgoing with everyone, from the promoter to the ball kids.
1995 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 12 June Muster..took the unusual step of shaking hands with each of the ballkids on his way off the court.
2014 Santa Fe New Mexican 6 Sept. b2/2 Others arrived..: a doctor, the chair umpire.., a ball kid with an umbrella to offer shelter from the sun.
ball lightning n. a natural electrical phenomenon of unknown cause characterized by the appearance of one or (occasionally) more brightly glowing globular or ellipsoidal objects floating or hovering in the air for several seconds, typically reported in association with thunderstorms.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > lightning > bead or forked lightning > globular
fireball1611
thunder-ball1686
globular lightning1843
ball lightning1846
ball of fire1900
1846 D. Lardner Pop. Lect. Sci. & Art I. 550 Of all the forms under which the results of electrical explosions in the air present themselves, the most inexplicable is that of ball-lightning.
1930 Discovery Dec. 391/2 Ball lightning is probably the most interesting form of lightning discharge.
2002 Sci. News 9 Feb. 87/2 Of the many scientific theories of ball lightning, most depict the phenomenon as some kind of plasma, or hot gas of electrons and positively charged atomic or molecular ions.
ball maker n. a person who makes balls, in various senses; also in extended use.
ΚΠ
1681 P. Rycaut tr. B. Gracián y Morales Critick 141 The Balls were puft with wind, in fashion like Mens heads, which the Ball-maker had filled with blasts..making them as hollow as empty.
1761 in R. Clark Golf: Royal & Anc. Game (1893) 45 Ball-maker to the Honorable Society of Golfers.
1875 S. W. Baker Eight Years' Wanderings Ceylon viii. 178 The mason-fly is also a ball-maker.
1905 Newport (Rhode Island) 22 Apr. 6/3 The opium is now made into balls... The natives wade about in the large vats containing the paste like drug and hand it out to hundreds of ballmakers.
2007 San Antonio (Texas) Express-News (Nexis) 8 Feb. (State & Metro ed.) (Business section) 1 e The thinking in the industry has been that four major ball makers were too many.
ball mill n. a mechanism for grinding dry substances into powder, consisting of a horizontal cylinder rotating on its axis and containing a number of balls of a hard, inert material such as steel or glass.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for treating ores > [noun] > for crushing ore
stamping-mill1552
bucker1653
buck1683
stamp-mill1752
Ball stamp1860
jaw-breaker1877
jaw-crusher1877
spaller1877
arrastre1881
trapiche1881
gravitation stamp1894
ball mill1895
gravity stamp1903
slugger1903
tube-mill1909
1895 Overland Monthly May 531/1 Other mining inventions have traveled into foreign lands, notably the Huntington pan, and the Paul pulverizing barrel. This barrel is now masquerading in Europe as the ‘Gruson ball mill’.
1963 J. Osborne Dental Mech. (ed. 5) xi. 242 The pigments are usually impregnated to the surface of the polymer particles by means of a ball mill.
2002 J. Colls Air Pollution (ed. 2) i. 22 The coal used in large-scale generating plant is ground in a ball mill to the texture of a fine powder so that it can be blown down pipes and mixed with air before combustion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > ore > [noun] > metal ore > iron ore > specific shape
ball-mine1702
pipe ore1709
ball veina1728
kidney ore1750
1702 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 23 1072 A sort of Iron Stone, akin to that which they call in Staffordshire Ballmine.
a1728 J. Woodward Attempt Nat. Hist. Fossils Eng. (1729) ii. 14 These [ironstone nodules] perhaps differ not much from those..called Ball-Mine in Staffordshire.
ball-money n. (also (Scottish) ba'-money) Scottish and English regional (northern) money traditionally donated by a newly married couple to their fellow parishioners, apparently often used to buy a football.
ΚΠ
1676 E. Coles Eng. Dict. Ball-money, given by a new bride to her old Play-fellows.
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. (at cited word) Whenever a marriage is about to be celebrated a crowd of young people very quickly gathers and the cry for Ba'-money is raised almost with enthusiasm.
1920 J. Firth Reminisc. Orkney Parish (1922) 58 The boys of that parish were entitled to receive from..[the bridegroom] as much money as would enable them to purchase a football... So while the company partook of the refreshments, the barn door was besieged by a crowd of boys shouting for ‘ba'-money’.
1984 Rev. Eng. Stud. Nov. 543 The venerable Yorkshire marriage custom of requiring bride and groom to toss ‘ball-money’ through the locked church gates to self-appointed gatekeepers.
ΚΠ
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 74 For Pelts or Leather, Ball-Nails or Pumping-Nails, Wool or Hair..the Press-man generally eases the Master-Printer of the trouble of choosing.
1770 P. Luckombe Conc. Hist. Printing Ball-Nails, tacks used in knocking-up balls.
1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 6 Ball nails, tacks or clouts used for fastening on the coverings of the old ink-balls.
ball pane n. = ball peen n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > driving or beating tools > [adjective] > type of hammer > having specific type of peen
ball peen1874
paned1901
ball pane1902
ball pome1922
1902 P. Marshall Metal Working Tools vi. 65 The ‘ball-pane’ is the small round knob at the back of the hammer-head, and is chiefly used for riveting.
1966 A. W. Lewis Gloss. Woodworking Terms 43 Other panes include the claw, the straight, and the ball pane.
ball peen n. a peen (peen n.) which is rounded in shape; usually attributive, esp. in ball-peen hammer.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > driving or beating tools > [adjective] > type of hammer > having specific type of peen
ball peen1874
paned1901
ball pane1902
ball pome1922
1874 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. I. 224/2 Ball-peen Hammer, a metal-worker's hammer with a spherical peen.
1961 R. E. Flanders Senator from Vermont vi. 73 If the pitch was too high, he would use the ball-peen end of a hammer and gently pockmark the bar until it had lowered to the proper pitch.
2002 R. Mistry Family Matters (2003) viii. 178 The right tool for every job—that's the handyman's motto. I have three types of hammer: claw, ball-peen, and bricklayer's.
ball pen n. = ball-point pen n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writing materials > writing instrument > [noun] > pen > ballpoint pen
ball-point pen1943
ball pen1946
Biro1947
ballpoint1959
rollerball1981
1946 Esquire Nov. 155 Biro who introduced the first ball-pen presents..a sensational new invention.
1958 Times 2 June p. vi/3 Gas is used..in the manufacture of familiar articles such as ball pens, aircraft engines, [etc.].
2001 French Rev. 5 892 The ball pen and pencil remain the vehicle for note-taking.
ΚΠ
1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II i. li. 33 The ball-pil'd pyramid.
ball planting n. Horticulture (now rare) a method of transplanting trees in which the soil on and around the roots is retained and transferred with the tree; cf. sense 9d.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > [noun] > transplanting
ball planting1902
1902 J. C. Gifford Pract. Forestry 127 With a few which are delicate it is unsafe to disturb the roots at all. In this case ball-planting is necessary—that is, the plant and earth together in a block or ball must be removed.
1948 R. St. B. Baker Green Glory ix. 95 Ball-planting of pine was recommended in Prussia in the latter half of the eighteenth century.
ball play n. play with a ball or balls.In quots. ?c1225 at sense 2a, c1230: something easy, ‘child's play’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > [noun] > that which is easy
ball play?c1225
child's gamec1380
boys' play1538
walkover1861
picnic1870
pudding1884
cakewalk1886
pie1886
cinch1888
snipa1890
pushover1891
pinch1897
sitter1898
pipe1902
five-finger exercise1903
duck soup1912
pud1917
breeze1928
kid stuff1929
soda1930
piece of cake1936
doddle1937
snack1941
stroll1942
piece of piss1949
waltz1968
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun]
ball play?c1225
ballc1300
goalball1834
baseball1845
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial
gnatc1000
ball play?c1225
smalla1250
triflec1290
fly1297
child's gamec1380
motec1390
mitec1400
child's playc1405
trufferyc1429
toyc1450
curiosity1474
fly-winga1500
neither mass nor matins1528
boys' play1538
nugament1543
knack?1544
fable1552
nincety-fincety1566
mouse1584
molehill1590
coot1594
scoff1594
nidgery1611
pin matter1611
triviality1611
minuity1612
feathera1616
fillip1621
rattle1622
fiddlesticka1625
apex1625
rush candle1628
punctilio1631
rushlight1635
notchet1637
peppercorn1638
petty John1640
emptiness1646
fool-fangle1647
nonny-no1652
crepundian1655
fly-biting1659
pushpin1660
whinny-whanny1673
whiffle1680
straw1692
two and a plack1692
fiddle1695
trivial1715
barley-strawa1721
nothingism1742
curse1763
nihility1765
minutia1782
bee's knee1797
minutiae1797
niff-naff1808
playwork1824
floccinaucity1829
trivialism1830
chicken feed1834
nonsensical1842
meemaw1862
infinitesimality1867
pinfall1868
fidfad1875
flummadiddle1882
quantité négligeable1885
quotidian1902
pipsqueak1905
hickey1909
piddle1910
cream puff1920
squat1934
administrivia1937
chickenshit1938
cream puff1938
diddly-squat1963
non-issue1965
Tinkertoy1972
?c1225 [see sense 2a].
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 95 Al þe wa of þis world is ieuenet to helle alre leaste pine, al nis bute bal plohe [MS. C ploȝe].
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. clxxjx The persecution of thys yere was but a balle playe in comparison of that.
1765 H. Timberlake Mem. 79 I was not a little pleased likewise with their ball-plays.
1855 H. W. Longfellow Hiawatha xi. 145 Skilled..In the play of quoits and ball-play.
1911 Times 15 Apr. 5/5 Ecclesiastical ball-play..was also practised at Eastertide in the Middle Ages.
2001 Amer. Indian Q. 25 522 An ancient Pasamaquoddy legend..explains the Northern Lights of the Aurora Borealis as the ball play of the Wababanal.
ballpoint n. short for ball-point pen n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writing materials > writing instrument > [noun] > pen > ballpoint pen
ball-point pen1943
ball pen1946
Biro1947
ballpoint1959
rollerball1981
1959 R. Gant World in Jug 124 I..looked at him, sitting there..holding a ball-point.
1973 J. Berryman Recovery (1974) 74 He readied his ballpoint and pad.
2001 N.Y. Times 22 Feb. a25/1 A dinosaurian paranoia about typewriters, word processors and just about any writing tools beyond pencils and ballpoints.
ball-pointed adj. that has a ball-shaped point.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [adjective] > spherical or globular > having spherical head or point
ball-pointed1827
ball-headed1829
1827 N. Arnott Elements Physics I. iii. 589 The dilator consists of a tube of thin membrane introduced empty into the stricture, on a ball-pointed wire.
1886 Chemist & Druggist 30 Oct. 584/1 Ball-pointed pens... Where the point is usually to be found there is..a minute ball.
1911 Proc. Royal Soc. B. 84 68 Unipolar stimulation with [a] fine ball-pointed electrode.
1935 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 39 1054 A few specimens of brass were measured..using a ball-pointed micrometer.
1952 ‘C. Brand’ London Particular xvi. 217 Sergeant Bedd licked the end of his ball-pointed pen.
1975 Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 6 Dec. 29/8 He was handed an envelope containing..a sheet with writings in ball pointed pen.
ball-point pen n. a writing pen with a point consisting of a minute ball which is inked from an inner reservoir.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writing materials > writing instrument > [noun] > pen > ballpoint pen
ball-point pen1943
ball pen1946
Biro1947
ballpoint1959
rollerball1981
1943 Nevada State Jrnl. 10 Sept. 14/1 (advt.) New Streamline Peerless Ball Point Pen.
1948 Specifications of Inventions, Pat. Spec. 617/176 A ball point pen of new and improved construction.
1958 Times Rev. Industry June 22/2 The ball-point pen has a universally inimical effect upon..handwriting.
1989 V. Glendinning Grown-ups vi. 68 Two ballpoint pens and some good stationery were noted by him and approved.
2001 French Rev. 5 891 The decline of the fountain pen began with the development of the modern ball-point pen..in the late 1940s.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > driving or beating tools > [adjective] > type of hammer > having specific type of peen
ball peen1874
paned1901
ball pane1902
ball pome1922
1922 Weekly Disp. 17 Dec. 15 1-lb. Ball-pome Hammer.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > drill or training > [noun] > weapon-training > firing practice
artillery practice1781
ball practice1803
fire discipline1870
blank practice1873
shoot1941
1803 Times 19 Nov. 3/1 The 3d Regiment of the Royal East-India Volunteers had a grand Ball Practice at Highgate yesterday.
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy III. iv. 97 A regimental target set up for ball-practice.
1853 T. J. Thackeray Three Lect. Pract. Rifle Firing 14 In the first period of ball practice, it would be well to place a target of eight feet diameter at a short distance, say fifty yards.
1904 Eng. Hist. Rev. 19 379 He cannot send them to the butts for ball practice till they have learnt how to load.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > [adjective] > safe or invulnerable > specific
pistol-proof1590
sword-proofa1593
fireproof1610
plot proofa1616
shot-free1616
stick-free1632
armour-proof1635
water-free1642
sting-free1644
iron-free1670
bomb-proof1702
ball-proof1759
bear-proof1840
bullet-proof1856
dingo-proof1873
aseismic1884
tamperproof1886
radioresistant1922
tamper-resistant1978
1759 Sussex Weekly Advertiser 26 Nov. 1/3 The Prames..are to escort the Flat-bottomed Boats. They draw only seven Feet Water, carry twenty 26 Pounders and two Mortars, and are Ball Proof.
1761 Ess. Art War 49 For defensive Arms they ought to have a Back and Breast-plate, Ball-Proof, a Scull-cap or Head-piece, with Brassars or Lobsters Claws to cover their Arms.
1845 Punch Mar. 127/1 The ball-proof coat is incomplete without a ball-proof hat, a ball-proof shirt-collar, and, perhaps,..a ball-proof pair of spectacles.
1904 Times 16 Aug. 6/1 The mutual fire compels each position to protect its occupants by elaborate bullet and ball proof defences.
ball python n. /ˌbɑl ˈpaɪˌθɑn/,
Brit. /ˈbɔːl ˌpʌɪθn/
, /ˈbɔːl ˌpʌɪθn/U.S. /ˌbɔl ˈpaɪˌθɑn/
, /ˌbɔl ˈpaɪˌθɑn//ˌbɑl ˈpaɪˌθɑn/West African English /ˌbɔl ˈpaitɔn/
a small West African python, Python regius, which curls into a tight ball with the head hidden when alarmed, and is popular as a pet in North America; also called royal python./ˌbɔl ˈpaitɔn/ΚΠ
1928 Ann. Rep. Secretary Smithsonian Inst. App. 107/1 Animals in the Collection [of the National Zoological Park]... Ball python (Python regius)..Rock python (Python molurus).
1955 G. Cansdale Reptiles W. Afr. ii. 23 When first captured it often curls itself into a ball at any alarm, and from this habit is often called the ball python, or..in Sierra Leone, the ‘shame snake’.
2004 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 13 June i. 8/4 About 2 million to 3 million reptiles are imported into the United States each year, including more than 1 million iguanas and 80,000 ball pythons.
ball race n. either of the two grooved rings between which the balls of a ball bearing run (cf. race n.1 8c).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > other parts > [noun] > parts for reducing friction > groove for
ball race1896
race1896
1896 Bangor (Maine) Daily Whig & Courier 13 Nov. 4/4 One of the novelties that will be sure to attract attention at the coming bicycle shows is an ingenious arrangement for conducting oil to the ball race.
1968 Autocar 25 Jan. 49/2 I drove the 2-litre car at Monte Carlo and we had transmission trouble there which was bad luck because it was a ball race that broke.
1997 J. Wilson Coarse Fishing Method Man. (1998) 58/3 It spins forever and even works relentlessly in the rain due to a double ball race when other reels start to grit up and loose their smoothness.
ball-shaped adj. shaped like a ball, spherical; (also) rounded, protuberant.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [adjective] > spherical or globular
roundc1300
orbicular?1440
spherical1523
spheral1571
globous1591
globy1595
bulbed1597
orbed1598
sphery1600
spheric1610
globical1612
rotundious1614
globular1626
globed1633
global1637
globose1667
spheriform1678
globosous1681
globar1699
bulbous1783
ball-shaped1802
globate1806
perispheric1828
bulb-like1836
balloon-shaped1839
bulbiform1849
globuloid1889
1802 tr. Fernandez in Naturalist's Pocket Mag. 4 at Round-crested duck He gives, as the specific character of this bird,..that ‘it's crest is ball-shaped, and white on both sides’.
1884 J. Colborne With Hicks Pasha in Soudan 241 Round ball-shaped boxes.
1955 Times 4 Aug. 6/1 To keep a ball-shaped satellite in space for one year it would have to start 200 miles up.
2003 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100 7254 (caption) Image of a ball-shaped cluster formed in a confluent culture.
ball smut n. a fungal disease of wheat: = bunt n.2 2 (cf. smut-ball n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > fungi > [noun] > puff-ball
wolf's-fista1300
puckfistc1300
puff1538
earth-puff1585
foist1593
fist1597
fuzz-ball1597
puff-fist1597
bunt1601
fuzz1601
bullfist1611
mully-puff1629
fist-ball1635
puffball1649
puck-ball1730
puffin1755
lycoperdon1756
frog cheese1766
puck1766
fuzzy-ballc1850
ball smut1925
1925 Jrnl. Royal Soc. W. Austral. 11 48 Autumn-infecting diseases, such as Ball Smut (Tilletia levis)..are most likely to be serious with the occurrence of an early wet season.
1950 N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. Dec. 508/1 The need for some type of seed treatment to control ball smut was soon recognised.
2003 C. Wrigley & I. Batey in S. P. Cauvain Bread Making: Improving Quality iv. 83 More serious than black point is infection with bunt, also known as ball smut or stinking smut, caused by Tilletia caries or T. foetida.
ball stick n. a racket, resembling a lacrosse stick, used in the American Indian game of stickball (stickball n. 2).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > instrument for hitting ball
clubc1450
battler?c1650
ball stick1775
pommel1845
ball bat1850
spat1866
paddle1922
1775 J. Adair Hist. Amer. Indians 400 The ball-sticks are about two feet long, the lower end somewhat resembling the palm of the hand, and..worked with deerskin thongs. Between these, they catch the ball, and throw it a great distance.
1846 J. J. Hooper Some Adventures Simon Suggs ix. 113 They..knock down their antagonists with their ball-sticks.
1894 Outing June 214/1 Around which [sc. the goal posts] they circled, beating them with their ball sticks.
1940 Amer. Anthropologist 42 479 (note) Each player is equipped with a pair of ball-sticks or rackets.
1999 Jrnl. Amer. Acad. Relig. 67 399 Women became active in the stickball game again, but they no longer played with ball sticks.
ball-stock n. Printing the stock or handle of a printer's ball.
ΚΠ
1676 E. Coles Eng. Dict. Pompets, Printers Ink-balls or Ball-stocks.
1770 P. Luckombe Conc. Hist. Printing 322 Ball-Stocks..have their under side turned hollow, to contain the greater quantity of Wool or Hair, to keep the Ball-Leathers plump the longer.
1808 C. Stower Printer's Gram. 337 Ball Stocks and Ball Racks.
1937 S. A. Kimber Story of Old Press 42 For the ink ball wool is made into a ball, placed in the ballstock and covered with a leather.
ballstone n. Geology and Mining (in the English west midlands) a rounded lump of ironstone or limestone; rock consisting of such lumps.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > stone > a stone > [noun] > other stones
loys1295
anthracites1535
rockstone?1545
stone-glass1585
milkstone1598
fieldstone1649
pebble1669
ballstone1726
grain-stone1756
knablick1757
found stone1800
sitfast1809
graptolite1838
bumble1839
hardhead1849
chock1894
chockstone1894
1726 J. Laurence New Syst. Agric. i. 177 The Iron-stone and Coal..lie here together [sc. at Mear Heath, Staffordshire]; the Stone above the Coal,..having the Bass above and below it; in which they meet an Iron Oar call'd Ball Stones distinct from the Vein.
1799 R. Townson Tracts & Observ. Nat. Hist. & Physiol. 168 (table) Ball Stone [is a] grey coloured ironstone in nodules, in dry clay. These nodules contain fern leaves and other vegetable impressions.
1840 Trans. Geol. Soc. 5 412 The masses which constitute the strata frequently form large, irregularly-rounded blocks, highly crystalline and pure. They are termed ‘ballstones’, and form an excellent flux for the ironstone.
1914 Proc. Geologists' Assoc. 25 193 In an evenly-bedded limestone an irregular ball-shaped or lenticular mass of unstratified limestone is found to occur, which a closer inspection reveals to be crowded with fossils. This development of the limestone has received from the Shropshire quarrymen the name of ballstone.
1993 J. Alfrey & C. Clark Landscape of Industry iii. 34 The uppermost band of Wenlock Limestone is good-quality stone, and contains many of the prized ‘ballstones’ or ‘crog balls’—residual lumps of pure coral which create a very high-quality stone.
ball-strike n. Baseball (more fully ball-and-strike) being or relating to the ratio of balls to strikes accumulated by a batter during a single turn at the bat; usually in ball-(and-)strike count.
ΚΠ
1924 Appleton (Wisconsin) Post-Crescent 15 Apr. 14/5 A batsman can be removed at any time in favor of a substitute hitter. The substitute simply taking the ball and strike count on the original batsman.
1951 N.Y. Times 17 June v. 25 Then, with the ball-strike count 3-1, the shortstop delivered his triple.
1990 Seattle Times 9 Apr. b3/3 He can throw it any time on the ball-strike count.
ball tampering n. Sport illicit interference with the ball used in a match or game, to gain an advantage in play; (Cricket) unlawful alteration of the condition of a ball, esp. by roughening the surface or lifting the seam in an attempt to aid swing bowling.
ΚΠ
1929 Morning News (Florence, S. Carolina) 28 Apr. 3/6 (heading) Crackers charge Danforth with ball tampering.
1990 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 19 Dec. 34 Two of the best-known figures in English cricket add their opinions to the great ‘doctoring’ debate. Dexter sees benefit of ball tampering.
1999 Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.) (Nexis) 31 July c1 The NFL has heard the awful stories. Punters who soak footballs in water before a game, then run them through the dryer. Kickers who grossly over-inflate the ball... Evidence of ball-tampering was so great that something had to be done.
2001 Herald (Glasgow) (Electronic ed.) 6 June It was tactics rather than umpiring errors or any ball tampering that caused England's defeat in the dramatic second Test against Pakistan.
ball tap n. = ballcock n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > tap > types of
washer1596
plug1707
ballcock1734
bib cock1797
draw-off1826
plug cock1826
screw tap1842
waste-cock1844
ball tap1849
self-tapping1878
mixing valve1902
mixer tap1936
combination tap1951
mixer1973
1849 Mechanics' Mag. 51 291/1 An advantage is found also in a self-acting ball-tap, in preventing any concussion from the stoppage of water on suddenly turning a tap under very high pressure.
1925 A. Bennett Clayhanger Family ii. iv. 173 This cistern, by means of a ball-tap, filled itself from the main nearly as quickly as it was emptied.
1988 Tasmanian Country (Nexis) 30 Sept. In the past, cattle have been able to knock the ball tap with their heads, which would result in the tank overflowing.
ball-tearer n. Australian slang a source of exasperation or dismay; something outstanding of its kind.
ΚΠ
1973 J. McNeil Chocolate Frog 25 I mean you bein' pinched for street fightin'..yer must be a real little ball-tearer.
2007 Weekend Austral. (Nexis) 20 Jan. (Sport section) 54 [He] would have been sitting bolt upright, enthralled by what had become a ball-tearer of a tantrum, even by the Russian's tumultuous standards.
ball thistle n. any of various thistles having globular heads, spec. †(a) globe thistle (genus Echinops) (obsolete. rare); (b) (U.S.) yellow thistle, Cirsium horridulum.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Compositae (composite plants) > [noun] > thistles
thistlec725
carduea1398
wolf's-thistlea1400
cardoona1425
wolf-thistle1526
cotton-thistle1548
gum-thistle1548
oat thistle1548
black chameleon1551
ixia1551
Saint Mary thistle1552
milk thistle1562
cow-thistle1565
bedeguar1578
carline1578
silver thistle1578
white chameleon1578
globe thistle1582
ball thistle1597
down thistle1597
friar's crown1597
lady's thistle1597
gummy thistle1598
man's blood1601
musk thistle1633
melancholy thistle1653
Scotch thistle1660
boar-thistle1714
spear- thistle1753
gentle thistle1760
woolly thistle1760
wool-thistle1769
bur-thistlea1796
Canada thistle1796
pine thistle1807
plume thistle1814
melancholy plume thistle1825
woolly-headed thistle1843
dog thistle1845
dwarf thistle1846
welted thistle1846
pixie glove1858
Mexican thistle1866
Syrian thistle1866
bull thistle1878
fish belly1878
fish-bone-thistle1882
green thistle1882
herringbone thistle1884
Californian thistle1891
winged thistle1915
fish-thistles-
1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 990 Carduus Globosus..is called in English Globe Thistle, and Ball Thistle.
1888 Amer. Naturalist 22 777 Of the native perennials may be mentioned..three sorts of thistles, namely: the ball thistle, common thistle and pasture thistle.
1969 Bennington (Vermont) Banner 21 Aug. 4/6 Monkshood is ready now, and ball thistle. If you are up on the mountain and can get some everlasting, that will be very useful, too.
ball toss n. (a) any of various games or competitions involving the tossing of a ball; (b) Tennis the action or an act of tossing the ball in the air prior to serving.
ΚΠ
1914 Gas Age 1 Sept. 235/1 Woman's ball toss—First place, Miss Olson.
1949 Jrnl. Amer. Assoc. Health, Physical Educ., & Recreation June 410/1 The ball toss is given first. For this, the racket is held straight above the shoulder with the racket face toward the net.
1972 Fort Pierce (Florida) News Tribune 26 Mar. 20/1 The ball toss in tennis is one of those deceptively simple actions.
1995 N.Y. Times 25 June xiii. 19/4 The..carousel..pulls you forward, past the ball-toss booths, where huge, brightly colored stuffed animals hang.
2016 Times (Nexis) 19 Nov. I still see a few technical things in his game.., most notably a ball toss that veers to the right.
ball tosser n. Sport (chiefly North American) (a) a person who throws or tosses a ball, esp. a baseball player; (b) a machine which fires baseballs in order to simulate pitching during batting practice.
ΚΠ
1869 Our Boys & Girls 11 Sept. 589/1 The ball tossers from Savannah were roughly treated.
1889 Lafayette (Louisiana) Advertiser 14 Sept. 1/4 It is a propelling machine... My ball-tosser will create a sensation in base ball circles and I expect to make big money out of it.
1920 Z. Grey Redheaded Outfield & Other Baseball Stories 32 That sore and disgruntled bunch of ball tossers! My players were a grouchy set in practice anyway.
1998 Sunday Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) (Nexis) 28 June (Sports section) c1 Both players struggled with their service toss in the windy weather... ‘I'm a bad ball-tosser,’ Rafter later explained.
2003 Dallas Morning News (Nexis) 12 Apr. This ball tosser/pitching machine feeder can hold 22 baseballs or 18 softballs.
ball trap n. a valve or trap (trap n.1 8) in which a floating ball directly closes an opening, either by its weight, as the water level falls, or by its buoyancy, as the level rises.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > provision of sewers > [noun] > sewer > trap > types of
well trap1819
bell-trap1867
ball trap1873
siphon trapa1884
pot trap1884
1873 E. A. Parkes Man. Pract. Hygiene (ed. 4) 344 The ball-trap is used in some special cases only; a ball is lifted up as the water rises, until it impinges on and closes an orifice.
1914 V. Havard Man. Mil. Hygiene (ed. 2) xlvi. 548 In the ball-trap, which is one of several obsolete mechanical types, the water displaced a ball which, by its weight, falls back upon the outlet.
1997 A. Barber Pneumatic Handbk. (ed. 8) iv. 232 Where there is the possibility of a large quantity of water to be discharged from a ball trap, an air lock may occur.
ball turret n. now historical an aircraft machine-gun turret consisting of a rounded, rotatable compartment projecting below (and sometimes retractable into) the fuselage.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > [noun] > fuselage > gun-turret or -pit
gun-pit1877
gun turret1916
dustbin1934
ball turret1942
1942 Piqua (Ohio) Daily Call 12 Aug. 7/7 (caption) Important member of U.S. bomber crew, about to take off on mission from England, is pint-sized Sergt. Edward Leary,..who mans ball turret beneath belly of bomber.
1945 Aeronautics Feb. 43/3 Nose turrets are supplied..and the retractable Sperry-designed ball turrets.
2000 J. C. McManus Deadly Sky i. 35 One of the most harrowing jobs on a B-17 or B-24 crew was ball turret gunner.
ball valve n. (a) a valve opened or closed by the rising or falling of a ball which exactly fits a cup-shaped opening in the seat; (b) = ballcock n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > control(s) > [noun] > valve > others
washer1596
turncock1702
air cock1709
Jack-in-the-box1728
runner1754
stop-valve1829
three-way cock1838
ball valve1839
relief valve1846
poppet valve1851
plunger valve1854
pot-lid1856
reflux valve1857
screw-down1864
mica valve1880
tide flap1884
tube-valve1884
swing-tap1892
relay valve1894
Schrader1895
pilot valve1900
mixer valve1904
spool valve1908
spill valve1922
safety valving1930
three-way1939
1839–47 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. III. 631/2 A mechanical office somewhat on the principle of the ball-valve.
1841 W. Templeton Locomotive Engine 38 The valves used are termed ball valves, being spheres of brass..situated in the pumps covering the orifices of inlet to the boiler.
1901 G. L. Sutcliffe Sanitary Fittings & Plumbing xiv. 126 Water-closets are now generally supplied directly from a separate cistern having an inlet controlled by a ball-valve.
1948 A. W. Turner & E. J. Johnson Machines for Farm, Ranch, & Plantation xviii. 748 Remove ball valve on suction side of pump to clean and sand lightly.
1991 Offshore Engineer Sept. 14/1 A ball valve needs little regular maintenance, but when its soft seats eventually do require maintenance..it must be taken out of line, refurbished and then replaced back in line.
1993 Collins Compl. DIY Man. (new ed.) ix. 410/2 Check feed-and-expansion tank in loft. If empty, the valve may be stuck. Move ball-valve float arm up and down to restore flow and fill system.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > ore > [noun] > metal ore > iron ore > specific shape
ball-mine1702
pipe ore1709
ball veina1728
kidney ore1750
a1728 J. Woodward Attempt Nat. Hist. Fossils Eng. (1729) 224 The interior Substance of it is of a brown Colour, the exterior a brownish yellow... This yields near as much Iron as n. 3. They call it the Ball-Vein, [at] Battle in Sussex.
1778 Encycl. Brit. II. 972/2 Ball Vein,..a sort of iron ore..usually of a circular form in the perfect masses, thickest in the middle.
ΚΠ
1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words I. 258/2 Cnopwort, the ball-weed.
1849 Sussex Archaeol. Coll. 2 329 Matfelon..is the black knapweed, Jacea nigra, Centaurea nigra... It was also called bollewed (ball-weed).
ball-winner n. (in team ball sports) a player who is adept at taking possession of the ball from the opposing team.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > player > types of
striker1699
kicker1829
non-striker1842
feeder1844
stopper1847
defender1851
hand-in1875
hand-out1875
back1880
attacker1884
field general1895
ball carrier1902
ball-handler1912
ball-winner1972
shotmaker1974
1972 Times 5 May 10/8 Leeds are deprived of the spectacular services of Cooper, an attacking full back, but Madeley and Reaney are better ball-winners.
1999 Waikato Times (Hamilton, N.Z.) (Electronic ed.) 11 Nov. Experienced New Zealand sevens representative Owen Scrimgeour will lead the team up front, being the key ball winner in the air.
ballyard n. Baseball = ballpark n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > baseball ground > [noun]
ball field1440
park1867
ballpark1871
baseball diamond1871
diamond1875
ballyard1897
orchard1913
1897 Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Evening Gaz. 26 Aug. 5/3 One of the most sensational plays made at the ball yard this season.
2002 D. Martin & B. Martin Best of San Francisco (ed. 5) i. 26 Pacific Bell Park has the look of a grand old ballyard with its brick façade.
Derivatives
ball-like adj.
ΚΠ
1686 Philos. Trans. 1685 (Royal Soc.) 15 885 In..the Medullary parts of the brain..was placed a very plyable ball-like substance.
1794 J. Bell Engravings i. Pl. XII. 74 The figure is so placed as to mark the large ball-like surface of this bone.
1866 W. P. Lennox in Catholic World June 304/2 The fore-legs [of the hound]..terminated by round, ball-like feet.
1950 L. E. Hawker Physiol. Fungi viii. 262 The roots of many flowering plants contain fungal hyphae which do not aggregate into ball-like masses in the cells.
2004 Pittsburgh (Pa.) Post-Gaz. (Nexis) 3 Aug. (Health section) d1 Mears cut through the thigh bone in two places near its ball-like head.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† balln.2
Obsolete.
1. A white streak or spot, perhaps a bald spot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > markings or colourings > [noun] > spotted marking > white streak or spot
ball?1523
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxi The two properties of a bauson [i.e. badger]. The firste is to haue a whyte rase, or a ball in the foreheed: the seconde to haue a whyte fote.
1539 in J. W. Clay Testamenta Eboracensia (1902) VI. 90 His owne horse..that had the ball in the hede.
2. A horse, perhaps a white-faced one. English regional in later use.In quot. 1600 as the name of a horse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > equus caballus or horse > [noun]
horsec825
blonkOE
brockc1000
mareOE
stota1100
caplec1290
foala1300
rouncyc1300
scot1319
caballc1450
jade1553
chival1567
prancer1567
ball1570
pranker1591
roussin1602
wormly1606
cheval1609
sonipes1639
neigher1649
quadruped1660
keffel1699
prad1703
jig1706
hoss1815
cayuse1841
yarraman1848
quad1854
plug1860
bronco1869
gee-gee1869
quadrupedant1870
rabbit1882
gee1887
neddy1887
nanto1889
prod1891
goat1894
skin1918
bang-tail1921
horsy1923
steed-
1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 37v Be wise who first doth teach thy childe that art, least homely breaker marre fine ambling ball.
1600 A. Munday et al. First Pt. True Hist. Sir I. Old-castle sig. E3v Dicke vpon hobbe, Hodge vpon Ball, Raph vpon Sorell, and Robin vpon the forehorse.
1725 D. Eaton Let. 3 June (1971) 22 Mr Billinges's ball is round and fat.
?1856 Halifax Words in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1898) I. 143 Ball.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
balln.3
/bɔːl/, U.S. /bɔl/, /bɑl/ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > [noun]
hoppingc1290
dancec1300
dancinga1340
sallyingc1440
footinga1450
balla1571
tracing1577
orchestra1596
measuring1598
dancery?1615
saltation1623
tripudiation1623
poetry of motion (also the foot)1654
light fantastic1832
rug-cutting1937
terping1942
a1571 Leslie 265 Thair was used [at Paris] a princely dansinge, called the ball royall,..and quhosone the balling was endit [etc.].
1633 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures lxxix. 321 All of them together..danced a Ball to the tune of two Harps and a Viol.
1655 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa II. vii. 271 I came into a large Rome, almost fill'd with Company, that then were danceing a Ball.
1668 Duchess of Newcastle Presence iv. v. 92 in Plays Then the Prince, and Princess and the rest of the Company, dance a Ball after the French fashion.
2.
a. A social gathering for dancing, esp. of people belonging to a common establishment, society, profession, etc., sometimes having an organized programme and special entertainment. Often in to give a ball, go to a ball, etc. Frequently with modifying word specifying the type of ball or its object or occasion, as archery, calico, charity, dignity, dress, masked, masquerade, race ball, etc.: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > [noun]
treschec1290
hoppingc1330
dancec1385
ball?1605
ballet1657
dancing-match1740
dancing-assembly1765
fandango1766
dancing-party1852
German1853
rag1899
ngoma1905
rat race1937
?1605 R. Dallington Method for Trauell sig. B4v It was his hap in an honourable Bal (as they call it) to take a fall.
1639 J. Shirley Ball iv. sig. H3 Luc. Some mallice has corrupted your opinion Of that we call the Ball. Co. Your dancing businesse.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar ii. 93 Avoid carnivals and balls..the perdition of precious houres.
1679 W. Penn Addr. Protestants 19 They had got a Calf of Gold, and were Dancing about it. But it was a Dismal Ball, and they paid dear for their Junket.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 466. ⁋3 On Thursday next, I make a Ball for my Daughter.
1779 J. Moore View Society & Manners France 175 Count Finkenstein gave a great dinner and ball.
c1782 in A. J. Ellis On Early Eng. Pronunc. (1889) V. 775 Shanks hed tane Betty Gray to the Hallow‐even ball.
1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice I. v. 39 Mrs. Long..had come to the ball in a hack chaise. View more context for this quotation
1863 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer Greece & Greeks I. v. 146 I was very willing to see a royal ball at Athens.
1917 J. Conrad Shadow-line ii. 66 When a..coach is produced out of a pumpkin to take her to a ball Cinderella does not exclaim.
2007 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 1 Feb. d6 Mirth ensues when the two run unexpectedly into each other at the embassy ball.
b. to open the ball: to begin the dancing at a ball; (figurative) to commence something, make a start.
ΚΠ
1729 Hist. Reg. No. 53. 52 A Ball, open'd by the Earl of Chesterfield and the Dutchess of Richmond.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. l. 146 I..had the honour of opening the ball with the rich heiress.
1812 Ld. Byron Waltz xiii. (note) Waltz and the battle of Austerlitz are..said to have opened the ball together.
1841 J. W. Orderson Creoleana vi. 63 Miss Fairfield..was the first lady handed out to ‘open the ball.’
1962 L. L'Amour Killoe 25 You boys can open the ball any time you like.
2007 Advocate (Louisiana) (Nexis) 11 Feb. d10 The pair opened the ball as members were introduced and promenaded around the grand ballroom.
3. In extended use: a very enjoyable time; a period of uninhibited amusement; esp. in to have a ball. slang (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > be pleased [verb (intransitive)] > enjoy oneself
to have a good (bad, etc.) time (of it, formerly on it)1509
to have fun1760
to have a ball1879
to get one's rocks off1948
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > [noun]
treschec1290
laetificationc1485
gossiping1557
special occasion1574
merry-meeting1597
merrymaking1618
frolic1645
merriment1663
rush1788
convivialities1830
merrymake1833
upshot1837
ball1879
spurt1885
sing-sing1899
jolly1905
rage1980
1879 F. Rogers & M. Holmes Our German Senator (typescript) ii. 30 All the fellows that said Aye! Aye! Come out and have a ball.
1929–32 in Amer. Speech (1934) 289 Pitch a ball, to have a riotous time at any social gathering.
1945 L. Shelly Hepcats Jive Talk Dict. 25/2 Having a ball, having a hectic time.
1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe Really Blues v. 75 An entertainer..was having a ball all to herself.
1955 T. Williams Cat on Hot Tin Roof (1956) ii. 77 What is it they call it, have me a —— ball!
1956 E. S. Aarons Assignment Treason v. 40 Quenton has himself a ball.
1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 126 My poor old battered parent was really having a tremendous ball.
1967 J. Porter Dover & Unkindest Cut xii. 132 Have yourself a ball! Go gay!
1990 Today 12 Mar. 29 It's just good entertainment and I think the public are going to have a ball when they see it.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.† ball-dancing n. Obsolete rare.† ball-day n. Obsolete
ball clothes n.
ΚΠ
1698 M. Pix Deceiver Deceived iv. 31 Good Gentlemen, consider my Ball-clothes.
1786 in Maryland Hist. Mag. (1926) 21 138 As my visit to Henny was entirely a nursing one I took no Ball Cloathes with me.
1854 A. M. Howitt Art Student Munich xxxix. 425 The very ball-clothes in which she was to have danced with her bridegroom at last Thursday's ball!
1948 E. Forbes Running of Tide vii. 279 He came in, dressed in his chamois pantaloons. ‘I'm trying on my ball clothes.’
2003 Dayton (Ohio) Daily News (Nexis) 5 Apr. (Life section) e1 Party guests were asked to come in their rags and bring ball clothes for their transformation to princess.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > ballroom dancing > [noun]
ball-dancing1728
ballroom dancing1838
ballroom dance1850
1728 J. Essex (title) Dancing-Master..the manner of performing all steps in Ball Dancing.
ΚΠ
1707 E. Ward London Terræ-filius No. 2. 16 He has Danc'd a Minuet with you, and presented you with a China Orange upon a Ball-Day.
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle III. lxxxii. 22 The careful matron..on the ball-day, feigned herself so extremely ill.
ball-dress n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > dress, robe, or gown > types of > for specific purpose > other
ball-dress1710
presentation dress1836
party frock1858
tea-gown1878
semi-evening gown1891
little black frock1898
cocktail dress1921
cocktail frock1926
little black dress1928
practice dress1934
1710 E. Ward Nuptial Dialogues & Deb. I. xix. 232 A pert, unthinking, little Fool In her Ball-Dress.
1789 E. Sheridan Let. in Betsy Sheridan's Jrnl. (1986) vi. 154 I was interrupted by Miss Bouverie coming up to shew me her Ball dress.
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xiv. 140 She came: looking so beautiful in her simple ball dress.
1875 ‘H. Mathers’ Comin' thro' Rye ii. vii How many yards of stuff an orthodox ample ball dress requires.
1936 Times 12 Feb. 17/6 The white ball dresses worn by the chorus are based on the same design.
2007 Vogue (Nexis) Apr. 334 A fitted top over a billowing ball dress emphasizes Hilary's trim build to breathtaking effect.
ball gown n.
ΚΠ
a1824 A. Thicknesse School of Fashion (1829) I. ii. 12 That happiness, which we believe is always felt by a very young girl the first time she puts on a ball gown.
1883 R. Broughton Belinda III. iii. 215 There are not many towns through which it would be judicious for a young and solitary woman to take her way, bare-headed and in flimsy ball-gown, at midnight.
1937 Amer. Home Apr. 131/2 (advt.) Scraps of ball-gown satin.
1994 S. Butala Perfection of Morning i. 9 I wanted to wear satin ballgowns, go to the theater, have movie stars for friends.
ball-night n.
ΚΠ
1701 T. Baker Humour of Age v. i. 57 I'm ravish'd! This is beyond a Ball-night.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 141 The company, on a ball-night, must look like an assembly of..fairies.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxiv. 377 The ball-nights in Ba—ath are moments snatched from Paradise.
1948 Lowell (Mass.) Sun 23 Sept. 12/7 Registration on Ball nights will take place in Liberty Hall.
2006 Aberdeen Evening Express (Nexis) 11 Aug. 16 A Glamorous ball night is aiming to boost funds for a children's charity.
ball supper n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > meal > [noun] > evening meal or supper
supperc1300
collationc1305
mid-dinnera1500
Sunday suppera1580
supper1598
evening meal1620
late dinner1649
ordinary suppera1661
petit souper1751
souper1787
ball supper1794
tray supper1825
kitchen supper1837
bump supper1845
evenmeat1848
tea-dinner1862
luncheon1903
1794 Proc. Old Bailey 19 Feb. 473/2 I have always gone out to dress dinners or ball suppers for going on of three years.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) iii. 17 What causes respectable parents to..spend a fifth of their year's income in ball suppers and iced champagne?
1914 Times 30 Jan. 9/6 The light French supper which has been usual at ball suppers for some years past.
2004 Caterer & Hotelkeeper (Nexis) 19 Aug. 24 Searcy's was founded in 1847 and quickly became the preferred caterer of the London aristocracy for private parties, weddings, and ball-suppers.
ball-ticket n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > [noun] > ticket for ball
ball-ticket1712
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 431. ⁋3 I then nibbled all the red Wax of our last Ball-Tickets.
1860 Harper's Mag. Nov. 789/2 It was an ordination Ball Ticket.
1930 Chron. Telegram 10 Nov. 1/4 Charity ball tickets will also be honored at Garden Golf dance hall.
2006 State Jrnl.-Reg. (Springfield, Illinois) (Nexis) 16 Nov. a2 Ball tickets are $100 for adults, $75 for students.
C2. † ball-book n. Obsolete U.S. a dance card.† ball-mask n. [apparently < ball n.3 + mask n.3, either as a remodelling of bal masqué n. or after its etymon French bal masqué; compare slightly earlier masked ball n. at masked adj.2 Compounds 1] Obsolete rare a masked ball.† ball-royal n. Obsolete rare some type of dance.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > [noun] > dance programme or card
ball-book1842
dance-card1895
programme1899
dance programme1906
1842 W. Howitt Rural & Domest. Life Germany xvii. 240 The nurse-maid had made her a parting present of a ball-book, the said housemaid never having learned a step in her life.
1869 L. M. Alcott Little Women II. xiv. 211 She showed him her ball-book with demure satisfaction.
1874 Appletons' Jrnl. 19 Dec. 775/3 Soon her ball-book is full—so full that only one waltz remains unclaimed.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > [noun] > masked
masque1533
masquerade1597
masked ball1763
bal masqué1768
ball-mask1770
redoubt1858
1770 J. Wilkes Corr. (1805) IV. 36 You did not mention particularly about the ball-mask.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > [noun] > other balls or dances
carolc1300
buttock-ball1698
redoubt1698
ridotto1708
race ball1770
county ball1771
dress ball?1772
promenade1778
waltz1802
hunt ball1807
dignity ball1834
ball-royala1843
polkery1845
jigging-party1872
prom1879
Cinderella dance1883
dinner dance1887
white ball1891
cotillion1898
taxi dance1910
Stampede Dance1950
go-go1965
a1571ball royall [see sense 1].
a1843 R. Southey Common-place Bk. (1849) 2nd Ser. 327/1 As great a performer in a ball-royal as himself.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
balln.4
/bɔːl/, U.S. /bɔl/, /bɑl/, Irish English /bɒːl/ Chiefly Irish English.
A glass of malt whisky (esp. Irish whiskey); chiefly in ball of malt.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > whisky > [noun] > a drink of
smile1839
ball1866
Scotch1883
a drop of the Auld Kirk1884
1866 W. Hilleary Jrnl. 10 July in Webfoot Volunteer (1965) 154 [The officers] are having a ball in the Hospital in honor of their baby's birth day. Something new to keep the whiskey running.
1925 S. O'Casey Juno & Paycock ii. 63 There's nothing like a ball o' malt occasional like.
1941 L. A. G. Strong Bay iv. 89 ‘Will you take a ball of malt?’ I realized he was offering me the whiskey.
1962 Spectator 5 Oct. 528 Some foolish administrator had let him loose on innumerable balls of malt.
1966 H. Kane Devil to Pay vi. 31 I..went behind the bar and made myself a new ball of Scotch and water.
1979 F. Kelly Ann. Ballykilferret 45 The applicant is issued with a book of red coupons, which he can exchange for balls of malt.
2007 Irish Times (Nexis) 13 Feb. 16 Kiely could hold aloft a song and a story as well as any man. It often happened with a ball of malt in his hand.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
ballv.1
/bɔːl/, U.S. /bɔl/, /bɑl/ Now English regional (chiefly Cornwall).
transitive and intransitive. To strike (at), thump; to shower blows.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)] > specific animate object
drepeOE
smitec1200
buffet?c1225
strike1377
rapa1400
seta1400
frontc1400
ballc1450
throw1488
to bear (a person) a blow1530
fetch1556
douse1559
knetcha1564
slat1577
to hit any one a blow1597
wherret1599
alapate1609
shock1614
baske1642
measure1652
plump1785
jow1802
nobble1841
scuff1841
clump1864
bust1873
plonk1874
to sock it to1877
dot1881
biff1888
dong1889
slosh1890
to soak it to1892
to cop (a person) one1898
poke1906
to hang one on1908
bop1931
clonk1949
c1450 (c1405) Mum & Sothsegger (BL Add. 41666) (1936) l. 456 (MED) Who wolde balle his heede to breke harde stones?
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 1026 And stert vp in a wood rage, & ballid on his croun.
1854 Notes & Queries 1st Ser. 10 179/1 Ball, to beat a person with a stout stick.
1896 M. A. Courtney in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1898) I. 143/2 [Cornwall] Howld your hooghly [cross] tongue Or ilse he'l bal ee black.
1993 K. C. Phillipps Gloss. Cornish Dial. (1998) 21 Bal, to strike: ‘I'll bal at 'ee.’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
ballv.2
/bɔːl/, U.S. /bɔl/, /bɑl/ 1.
a. transitive. To make into a ball, esp. by compacting or winding; (also) to screw up into a ball. Frequently with up or off.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > make into curved three-dimensional shape [verb (transitive)] > make spherical or globular > form into spherical mass
conglobe1535
ball1577
conglomerate1596
to round up1615
conglobate1635
1577 Arte of Angling sig. Dviii Chewe it [sc. bread] in your mouth untill it be moist, and then ball it, and cast it in.
1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid ii. xxv. 157 Ball the bones together with your hands, as a snow-ball is made.
1785 G. Cartwright Jrnl. Resid. Coast Labrador 20 Sept. (1792) III. 77 More sods were pared, and some drag-twine balled off.
1792 G. Cartwright Labrador III. 123 They were employed afterwards in balling twine.
1798 J. Lawrence Philos. & Pract. Treat. Horses II. xi. 437 Give a purge with fine aloes, jalap, and myrrh, balled up with hard soap.
1849 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Aug. 199/1 She..asked me to hold her woollen yarns for her as she balled them off.
1889 W. C. Russell Marooned I. xvi. 308 A spun-yarn winch was rattling on the forecastle; and the half-blood Charles..was balling up the stuff as it was manufactured.
1922 Times 5 Dec. p. xvi/7 Twisting, scouring, polishing, and balling or rolling the twine.
1970 G. Scott-Heron Vulture i. 62 I balled up the letter and tossed it to the floor.
1990 N.Y. Woman June–July 110/3 Robert and his father balled up their napkins, threw them into the middle of their plates.
2005 Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph (Nexis) 28 Mar. 12 Several worms were threaded and the wool balled up into a tangle.
b. transitive. Metallurgy. To form (molten iron) into balls in the puddling furnace, for hammering or rolling. Frequently with up. Now chiefly historical. Cf. ball n.1 9e.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > forge or shape > form (molten iron) into balls
ball1839
1839 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 2 17/2 A reverberatory furnace of the common construction employed in ‘puddling’, ‘balling’, or ‘piling’ iron.
1846 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1845 48 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (29th Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 140) IV The furnace is then to be brought to its greatest heat, and the charge balled.
1868 F. H. Joynson Metals in Constr. 62 The metallic matter is..balled up and shingled.
1904 H. O. Hofman Outl. Metall. Iron & Steel iv. 127 The temperature is now again raised, the wrought iron broken up into pieces by inserting a crowbar and ‘balled’ into a large mass with the cinder hook.
1922 J. J. Davis Iron Puddler xviii. 110 The charge, which lost part of the original weight by the draining off of slag, now weighs five hundred fifty to six hundred pounds. I am balling it into three parts of equal weight.
1969 W. K. V. Gale Iron & Steel v. 58 The puddler..quartered the pasty iron... Then, one by one, the pieces were gathered, or balled up, into balls.
1997 H. R. Schubert in T. Boyns Steel Industry I. 23 The essentials necessary for converting cast iron into wrought iron, i.e., re-melting and balling in finery hearth, and..consolidating and forging with a water-hammer.
c. transitive. To clench (the fist) tightly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > act of drawing body into compact form > drawn into compact form [verb (transitive)] > clench
clitchc1025
fasten1559
knit1602
set1602
clinch1624
clench1755
grippen1814
grip1861
ball1890
1890 S. Baring-Gould Arminell I. vi. 99 With teeth clenched, and fists balled in his breeches pocket.
1975 R. Kelly Loom 140 He balled his fist & brought it down hard on the neck.
2007 Chicago Daily Herald (Nexis) 7 Jan. 7 Blount scowled and balled his fists, as if he were ready for a fight.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (transitive)] > distend > swell
swella1400
puffc1460
embossc1475
extend1481
heave1573
ball1593
tympanize1593
tumefy1597
hove1601
bladder1610
buzzlea1634
burly1635
inflatea1705
bumfle1832
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 20v The mayden-Moone..shal haue her crimson cheekes (as they wold burst) round balled out with bloode.
3. intransitive. To play at ball. Now rare. Cf. ball n.1 2b, balling n.2In quot. 1608 in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > play at ball [verb (intransitive)]
ball1608
1608 J. Day Humour out of Breath i. i. sig. Bv You haue Courts for tennis, and me thinkes t'were meet, Learning should not stand balling in the street.
1681 Arraignm.,Tryal & Condemnation S. Colledge 37 When I came, he was balling.
1998 C. Ballard Hoops Nation vii. 121 Sam Houston veterans who balled with the young Shaquille are less than starstruck.
4. intransitive. To gather into a ball. Occasionally with up. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > take curved three-dimensional shape [verb (intransitive)] > become spherical or globular > become spherical mass
conglobe1600
conglomerate1642
conglobate1646
ball1735
conglobulate1791
1735 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer I. ix. 55 He lets three Bushels of Malt be..stirred or mash'd all the while, but as little as can be, or no more than just to keep the Malt from clotting or balling.
1808 R. Southey Select. from Lett. (1856) II. 342 In clogs..snow balls under the wooden sole.
1880 R. D. Blackmore Mary Anerley III. iv. 55 The snow would..ball wherever any softness was.
1921 J. Galsworthy To Let iii. vii. 271 All the old car-wise feelings..balled within him.
1924 Ski Terms in Tourist Winter Sports No. 12/2 Wax, a paraffin preparation to prevent the snow balling under the ski.
1968 New Scientist 12 Sept. 545/2 One of the main problems of welding in space..is likely to be levitation of molten metal due to weightlessness. The metal could ‘ball-up’ and float away.
2006 Times (Nexis) 13 Mar. 62 Snow was balling in the hooves of the Irish horses out at exercise.
5. intransitive. Of a shoe (esp. a horseshoe), hoof, etc.: to become clogged with balls of mud, snow, or the like. Also with the horse as subject. Occasionally transitive. In later use frequently with up.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > become clogged (horses feet)
ball1760
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > clog (horses feet)
ball1848
1760 in New-Eng. Historical & Geneal. Reg. (1882) XXXVI. 31 A thaw, heavy travelling, the Snow shoes balling.
1787 G. Washington Diaries III. 297 Apprehension of the Horses balling with the snow.
1828 N. Webster Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) We say, the horse balls.
1848 A. Brontë Tenant of Wildfell Hall III. xiv. 284 The snow..clogged the wheels and balled the horses' feet.
1861 J. Brown Horæ Subsecivæ 2nd Ser. 304 His pony getting its feet balled, staggered about.
1896 S. Tynedale Stud. He had walked a long way in the snow... His iron-shod clogs ‘balled’ a good deal, and each step added many ounces to his feet.
1908 S. W. Mitchell Adventure in 1777 ii. 67 The horses had come quite nine miles or more through tiring drifts. Now and then their feet balled and Tom had to get down and beat out the packed snow.
1927 Amer. Anthropologist 29 156 The adobe mud was soft and deep under the snow and the mules' feet balled up to the size of peck measures.
2005 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) (Nexis) 25 Jan. 39 (caption) Simone..uses a hammer to knock ice and snow from a horse's shoe at the stables to keep its hoof from ‘balling up’.
6. slang (originally and chiefly U.S.). to ball up.† a. intransitive. To fail. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > educational administration > examination > examine [verb (intransitive)] > fail examination
fizzle1847
flunk1848
to ball up1856
spin1869
muff1884
1856 B. H. Hall Coll. College Words (rev. ed.) 19 Ball up, at Middlebury College, to fail at recitation or examination.
b. transitive. To clog or tangle; to bring into a state of entanglement, confusion, or difficulty. Frequently as past participle, esp. in balled up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > close or shut [verb (transitive)] > close by obstruction or block up
fordita800
forstop?c1225
estopa1420
accloy1422
ferma1522
clam1527
quar1542
cloy1548
dam1553
occlude1581
clog1586
impeach1586
bung1589
gravel1602
impediment1610
stifle1631
foul1642
obstipate1656
obturate1657
choke1669
blockade1696
to flop up1838
jama1865
to ball up1884
gunge1976
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > confuse or disorder [verb (transitive)]
disparplea1400
rufflea1400
mingle-mangle1549
confound1553
jumblea1575
barbulye1588
Babelize1600
embroil1603
puddlea1616
confuse1630
jargogle1692
mishmash1694
to make a mull of1821
inturbidatea1834
bedevil1844
to ball up1884
jazz1914
scramble1927
balls1947
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [verb (transitive)] > make difficult or complex > and confused
snarl1653
to ball up1884
to snarl up1937
1884 C. Lummis Let. 30 Oct. in Lett. from Southwest (1989) 53 That knapsack balls me all up.
1885 ‘M. Twain’ Lett. (1917) II. xxv. 465 It will ‘ball up’ the binderies again.
1887 Harper's Mag. Sept. 605/2 ‘You seem balled up about something.’..‘Balled up!.. I'm done for.’
1896 G. Ade Artie xi. 98 She had him balled up till he couldn't say a word.
1930 D. Parker Laments for Living 6 I didn't mean to say that. You get me so balled up.
1934 E. Linklater Magnus Merriman xi. 128 Gee, I'm sorry I was late! I got all balled-up over the time.
1959 J. Drummond Black Unicorn xiv. 100 These electrical devices are always getting balled up.
2001 Energy User News (Nexis) 1 Jan. 14 They get so balled up that they can't agree.
c. transitive. To ruin; to make a mess of. Cf. balls v.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > be unskilled in [verb (transitive)] > bungle
botch1530
bungle1530
mumble1588
muddle1605
mash1642
bumble?1719
to fall through ——1726
fuck1776
blunder1805
to make a mull of1821
bitch1823
mess1823
to make a mess of1834
smudge1864
to muck up1875
boss1887
to make balls of1889
duff1890
foozle1892
bollocks1901
fluff1902
to make a muck of1903
bobble1908
to ball up1911
jazz1914
boob1915
to make a hash of1920
muff1922
flub1924
to make a hat of1925
to ass up1932
louse1934
screw1938
blow1943
to foul up1943
eff1945
balls1947
to make a hames of1947
to arse up1951
to fuck up1967
dork1969
sheg1981
bodge1984
1911 H. Quick Yellowstone Nights ix. 238 Every time old Hen stepped, he balled things up worse.
1952 J. Thompson Killer inside Me v. 28 I've tried to do you a favor. If you ball it up, it's your headache.
2005 S. Amick Lake, River & Other Lake xix. 85 The only thing that could maybe ball it up would be if people acted like jerkoffs around him.
7. transitive. Of bees: to surround (the queen) in a dense cluster, often causing her death by overheating; to overwhelm (an intruding insect) in a similar way. Cf. balling n.2 5. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Hymenoptera > [verb (transitive)] > surround queen in cluster (of bees)
ball1879
1879 A. I. Root ABC Bee Culture 201/1 In dividing them up, if you get two or more queens in a hive, they will be balled..and you can thus easily find them.
1888 F. R. Cheshire Bees & Bee-keeping II. 426 If very many pass the guards [of a strange hive] unchallenged, they are likely to ball the queen, and possibly destroy her.
1919 T. W. Cowan Brit. Bee-keeper's Guide Bk. (ed. 23) 141 It is sometimes very difficult to introduce queens into hives having no young bees, as the old bees frequently ‘ball’ the queen and hug her to death unless she be released.
8. Horticulture.
a. transitive. To prepare (a tree, shrub, etc.) for transplantation, retaining a ball of soil around the roots; to leave soil on (the roots of a tree, shrub, etc.) when preparing for transplantation. See balled adj. 3.
ΚΠ
1889 E. J. Wickson Calif. Fruits & how to grow Them xxxi. 46 To ball and sack trees, dig a trench along one side of the row about six inches away from the trees.
1916 J. W. Toumey Seeding & Planting 401 It is seldom necessary to ball the roots of deciduous species when used in silvicultural operations.
1927 Ladies' Home Jrnl. Dec. 109/2 Evergreens should be balled and burlapped, if they are to be successfully transplanted.
1968 Mrs. L. B. Johnson Diary 12 Nov. in White House Diary (1970) 736 We rode by Columbia Island, looked at the trees already planted, and those balled beside holes already dug.
1997 Capital (Annapolis, Maryland) 30 Nov. d1 If properly balled and wrapped, live trees will survive outdoors for many years.
b. intransitive. Of roses: to fail to open properly due to adhesion of the petals, resulting in decay of the half-open bud. Cf. balling n.2 6.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > particular flowers [verb (intransitive)] > fail to open (of roses)
ball1930
1930 H. H. Thomas Amateur's Rose Bk. iii. 11 A rose is said to ‘ball’ when the petals stick together and fail to open.
1976 Chron.-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) 3 Oct. c6/1 In wet weather..many buds ball and do not open.
2001 R. K. Horst Westcott's Plant Dis. Handbk. (ed. 6) iii. 125 When half-open buds ball, the cause is often an infestation of thrips.
9. transitive. U.S. slang. to ball the jack: to behave recklessly or wildly; (also) to travel fast, to hurry. [Origin uncertain; first recorded as the name of a popular dance (see quot. 1913), although it is unclear whether the expression was originally coined in this sense; perhaps compare highball v., and also the following apparently isolated earlier use of to ball it off in sense ‘to travel at a fast rate’:For later examples of the verb ball (in non-phrasal use) in this sense, see J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1994) I. at ball v.]
c1847 J. T. Downey Cruise of Portsmouth (1963) 36 In the course of 24 hours we got a fair wind and were soon balling it off at the rate of 12 knots.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > move swiftly [verb (intransitive)]
lakeOE
flyOE
runOE
scour13..
jace1393
hie1398
spina1400
fleetc1400
glentc1400
stripc1400
suea1450
carryc1450
speed1488
scud1532
streek1598
winga1616
to clip it1616
hackney1617
swifta1618
whirryc1630
dust1673
whew1684
race1702
stroke1735
cut1797
spank1807
skid1815
speela1818
crack1824
skimmer1824
slap1827
clip1832
skeet1838
marvel1841
lick1850
travel1850
rush1852
zip1852
sail1876
rabbit1887
move1906
high-tail1908
to ball the jack1914
buzz1914
shift1922
giddap1938
burn1942
hoosh1943
bomb1966
shred1977
1913 J. Burris Ballin' Jack (song) 5 Now that's what I call ‘Ballin' the Jack’.]
1914 in W. C. Handy Blues Treasury 74 A long tall gal makes a preacher ball the jack.
c1925 in H. Wentworth Amer. Dial. Dict. (1944) 41/1 The car certainly did ball the jack.
1941 J. H. Street In my Father's House 268 They think as soon as you die you go balling-the-jack to God.
1957 J. Kerouac On the Road i. iii. 16 He balled the jack and told stories for a couple of hours.
2003 Houston (Texas) Press (Nexis) 18 Sept. He'll rock about truck-stop queens and long black highways and badasses balling that jack to nowhere.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
ballv.3
/bɔːl/, U.S. /bɔl/, /bɑl/ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > take part in ball [verb (intransitive)]
ball1664
1664 Duchess of Newcastle CCXI Sociable Lett. lxxi. 150 The Fifth Ladyes Time is only spent in Giving and Receiving Visits, in Balling, Dancing, and the like, but I hear nothing else of her.
1688 T. D'Urfey Fool's Preferment ii. i. 22 Aur. Sir, I hope you'll stay till the next Ball be past however. Cockl. Not I: I have been Balling on't too long,..wasting all my Substance.
1782 Ld. Fife Let. 8 June in Ld. Fife & his Factor (1925) vi. 143 Dined, visited and balled at all the great houses.
1842 C. Dickens Let. 12 Mar. (1974) III. 115 I have been dined, and balled..and feted in all directions.
1855 Harper's Mag. Apr. 821/1 It is the temperature that sets people dancing and balling.
2. intransitive. To enjoy oneself; to ‘have a ball’ (see to have a ball at ball n.3 3); also to ball it up.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > merrymaking or conviviality > make merry [verb (intransitive)] > noisy or riotous
revelc1390
ragea1400
roara1450
jet?1518
tirl on the berry?1520
roist1563
roist1574
revel1580
domineer1592
ranta1616
roister1663
scour1673
tory-rory1685
scheme1738
to run the rig1750
gilravagea1760
splore?a1799
spree1859
to go on the (or a) bend1863
to flare up1869
to whoop it up1873
to paint the town (red)1882
razzle1908
to make whoopee1920
boogie1929
to beat it up1933
ball1946
rave1961
1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe Really Blues iii. 32 Joe Tuckman felt like balling that night cause he beat Big Izzy..in the crap game.
1962 ‘K. Orvis’ Damned & Destroyed x. 70 A so-called friend invites you..to a coloured joint—to ball it up for a night.
2006 Prince Rupert (Brit. Columbia) Daily News (Nexis) 10 Apr. 6 I got a bunch of young guys with me... All they want to do is ball it up.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
ballv.4
/bɔːl/, U.S. /bɔl/, /bɑl/ coarse slang (originally U.S.).
transitive. To have sexual intercourse with (someone). Also intransitive.Usually with a man as subject.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity [verb (intransitive)] > have sexual intercourse
playOE
to do (also work) one's kindc1225
bedc1315
couple1362
gendera1382
to go togetherc1390
to come togethera1398
meddlea1398
felterc1400
companya1425
swivec1440
japea1450
mellc1450
to have to do with (also mid, of, on)1474
engender1483
fuck?a1513
conversec1540
jostlec1540
confederate1557
coeate1576
jumble1582
mate1589
do1594
conjoin1597
grind1598
consortc1600
pair1603
to dance (a dance) between a pair of sheets1608
commix1610
cock1611
nibble1611
wap1611
bolstera1616
incorporate1622
truck1622
subagitate1623
occupya1626
minglec1630
copulate1632
fere1632
rut1637
joust1639
fanfreluche1653
carnalize1703
screw1725
pump1730
correspond1756
shag1770
hump1785
conjugate1790
diddle1879
to get some1889
fuckeec1890
jig-a-jig1896
perform1902
rabbit1919
jazz1920
sex1921
root1922
yentz1923
to make love1927
rock1931
mollock1932
to make (beautiful) music (together)1936
sleep1936
bang1937
lumber1938
to hop into bed (with)1951
to make out1951
ball1955
score1960
trick1965
to have it away1966
to roll in the hay1966
to get down1967
poontang1968
pork1968
shtup1969
shack1976
bonk1984
boink1985
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with
mingeOE
haveOE
knowc1175
ofliec1275
to lie with (or by)a1300
knowledgec1300
meetc1330
beliea1350
yknowc1350
touchc1384
deala1387
dightc1386
usea1387
takec1390
commona1400
to meet witha1400
servea1400
occupy?a1475
engender1483
jangle1488
to be busy with1525
to come in1530
visitc1540
niggle1567
mow1568
to mix one's thigh with1593
do1594
grind1598
pepper1600
yark1600
tumble1603
to taste of1607
compressc1611
jumble1611
mix?1614
consort?1615
tastea1616
bumfiddle1630
ingressa1631
sheet1637
carnal1643
night-work1654
bump1669
bumble1680
frig?c1680
fuck1707
stick1707
screw1719
soil1722
to do over1730
shag1770
hump1785
subagitatec1830
diddle1879
to give (someone) onec1882
charver1889
fuckeec1890
plugc1890
dick1892
to make a baby1911
to know (a person) in the biblical sense1912
jazz1920
rock1922
yentz1924
roll1926
to make love1927
shtupa1934
to give (or get) a tumble1934
shack1935
bang1937
to have it off1937
rump1937
tom1949
to hop into bed (with)1951
ball1955
to make it1957
plank1958
score1960
naughty1961
pull1965
pleasurea1967
to have away1968
to have off1968
dork1970
shaft1970
bonk1975
knob1984
boink1985
fand-
1955 W. Gaddis Recognitions ii. i. 308 He used to bring her down here to shock her, and then take her home and ball her...—Edna? said Otto, unable to swallow.—With him?
1962 J. Baldwin Another Country i. i. 76 Next to him..sat a girl he had balled once or twice.
1963 Realist June 29 Is it bizarre that married guys have to jerk off more than anyone else, because your old ladies won't ball you and you can't chippie?
1968 T. Leary Politics of Ecstasy xii. 231 The way you ball (or avoid balling) is your central sacramental activity.
1974 G. Paley Enormous Changes at Last Minute 154 You like to ball?.. Then he put up her dress and take down her panties.
1978 G. Vidal Kalki i. 9 And you can tell the world all about those chicks that you ball.
1997 J. Coe House of Sleep xi. 200 She's really a hooker, and Jim Belushi's been balling her.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.11166
n.2?1523
n.3a1571
n.41866
v.1c1450v.21577
v.31664v.41955