. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
Multiple theories and origins.
Proper noun
Ball
- An English surname.
- A town in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States.
- A hamlet in Egloshayle parish, on the eastern outskirts of Wadebridge, Cornwall, England (OS grid ref SX0073).
Derived terms
Central Franconian
Etymology 1
From Middle High German and Old High German bal, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.
Pronunciation
Noun
Ball m (plural Balle or Bäll, diminutive Bällche)
- (most dialects) ball (round or roundish object, most commonly used in games)
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French bal.
Pronunciation
Noun
Ball f or m (plural Balls)
- (most dialects, dance) ball (social gathering for dancing), prom (US)
Usage notes
- The plural, Balls, is only used in western Ripuarian and the Limburgan-Ripuarian Transitional Dialects. The other dialects do not have a (known) plural. There is also no known diminutive.
- The feminine form is used in westernmost Ripuarian and the Limburgan-Ripuarian Transitional Dialects, the masculine form is used in most other dialects.
German
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle High German and Old High German bal, from Proto-West Germanic *ballu, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.
Cognates include English ball, Dutch bal, Danish bold, Swedish boll, Icelandic böllur, and Norwegian ball.
Noun
Ball m (strong, genitive Balles or Balls, plural Bälle, diminutive Bällchen n)
- ball (round or roundish object, most commonly used in games)
- Können wir uns deinen Ball ausleihen? ― Can we borrow your ball?
- Er formte einen Ball aus Papier. ― He shaped the paper into a ball.
- (ball games, informal) pass, play
- Synonyms: Pass, Spielzug
- ein guter Ball in den Strafraum ― a great ball into the box
- Die Bälle müssten öfter über links kommen. ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
Usage notes
- The German words Kugel and Ball are usually distinguished inasmuch as the former refers to solid balls (such as those used for billiards or bowling) while the latter refers to air-filled or elastic balls (such as tennis or footballs/soccer balls). This distinction may be neglected colloquially or jokingly.
Declension
Derived terms
Descendants
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French bal.
Noun
Ball m (strong, genitive Balles or Balls, plural Bälle)
- (dance) ball (social gathering for dancing), prom (US)
- Synonym: Tanzball
Declension
Derived terms
Descendants
Further reading
Limburgish
Etymology 1
From Middle Dutch bal, from Old Dutch *bal, from Frankish *ball, from Proto-West Germanic *ballu, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ba˨l/
- Hyphenation: Ball
- Rhymes: -al
Noun
Ball m (plural Bäll, diminutive Bälltje) (German-based spelling, Eupen spelling)
- ball (round or roundish object, most commonly used in games)
- (informal) testicle, nut
- (anatomy) ball (of the hand or foot)
- (chiefly in the negative) anything
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French bal.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ba˦l/
- Hyphenation: Ball
- Rhymes: -al
Noun
Ball m (plural Bäll, diminutive Bälltje) (German-based spelling, Eupen spelling)
- (dance) ball (social gathering for dancing), prom (US)
Luxembourgish
Etymology
From Middle High German and Old High German bal, from Proto-West Germanic *ballu, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.
Pronunciation
Noun
Ball m (plural Bäll)
- ball (round object for playing sports)