FAQs
Word Forms Noun. Filter (0) (cricket) A cricket ball that has been used in a previous match; one that has been used in the current match for over 30 overs.
What were ancient balls made of? ›
The ancient Roman ball was usually made of leather strips sewn together and filled with various materials. The smallest, the harpastum, was a hard ball stuffed with feathers. The largest, the follis, contained an air-filled bladder, similar to a modern football (soccer ball) or basketball.
What does the ball mean in slang? ›
In American slang, the word "ball" has multiple meanings. Here are some of the common slang meanings of "ball": To engage in sexual intercourse [1]. testicl*s [2]. Masculinity, particularly strength, courage, and force of will [2].
What does play ball mean in slang? ›
Get going, start, as in It's time to get a move on; let's play ball . This usage comes from the baseball umpire's call to start a game. [ Slang ; late 1800s]
What is the oldest ball ever found? ›
The oldest known ball in the world is a toy made of linen rags and string that was found in an Egyptian child's tomb dating to about 2500 B.C. In highland Mesoamerica, evidence shows that ball games were played starting at least as far back as 1650 B.C., based on the finding of a monumental ball court, though the ...
Did balls exist in the medieval times? ›
At this time balls were made of leather and stuffed with either cloth or straw; or pig bladders filled with dried peas were used. Medieval sport was an exciting spectator event and, much like today, it drew large crowds.
What were Aztec balls made of? ›
The ball was made of solid rubber and weighed as much as 4 kg (9 lbs), and sizes differed greatly over time or according to the version played. The Mesoamerican ballgame had important ritual aspects, and major formal ballgames were held as ritual events.
What is the meaning of dead ball? ›
Definition. A dead ball is a ball that is out of play. The ruling of a dead ball halts the game and no plays can legally occur until the umpire resumes the game, though baserunners can advance as the result of acts that occurred while the ball was live.
What does ball mean in Old English? ›
From Middle English bal, ball, balle, from an unattested Old English *beall, *bealla (“round object, ball”) or Old Norse bǫllr (“a ball”), both from Proto-Germanic *balluz, *ballô (“ball”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰoln- (“bubble”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blow, inflate, swell”).
What is the literal meaning of ball? ›
: a round or roundish body or mass: such as. a. : a spherical or ovoid body used in a game or sport. a tennis ball. used figuratively in phrases like the ball is in your court to indicate who has the responsibility or opportunity for further action.
The word ball derives from the Latin word ballare, meaning 'to dance', and bal was used to describe a formal dancing party in French in the 12th century. The ballo was an Italian Renaissance word for a type of elaborate court dance, and developed into one for the event at which it was performed.