Ball
English
Etymology
Multiple theories and origins.
- From a short form of the Middle English given name Baldwin.
- A toponymic surname for a person that lives near a knoll or rounded hill (i.e. somewhere shaped like a ball).
- From the Old Norse given name Balle.
- A habitational surname for a person from Ball, Cornwall, from Cornish Pelen.
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
- Ball's pipefish
- Ballston
Central Franconian
Alternative forms
- Bal (Kerkradish)
Etymology 1
From Middle High German and Old High German bal, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ba²l/, [bɑ²l]
Noun
Ball m (plural Balle or Bäll, diminutive Bällche)
- (most dialects) ball (round or roundish object, most commonly used in games)
Derived terms
- Basketball
- Foßball
- Handball
- Korvball
- Tennisball
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French bal.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ba¹l/, [bɑ¹l]
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
- IPA(key): /bal/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -al
Etymology 1
From Middle High German and Old High German bal, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.
Noun
Ball m (strong, genitive Balles or Balls, plural Bälle, diminutive Bällchen n)
- ball (round or roundish object, most commonly used in games)
- bullet
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
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | der | Ball | die | Bälle |
| genitive | eines | des | Balles, Balls | der | Bälle |
| dative | einem | dem | Ball, Balle1 | den | Bällen |
| accusative | einen | den | Ball | die | Bälle |
1Now uncommon, see notes.
Derived terms
- am Ball bleiben
- den Ball flach halten
Related terms
- ballförmig
- Basketball, Korbball
- Feuerball
- Fußball
- Handball
- Kopfball
- Schmetterball
- Schneeball
- Tennisball
- Tischtennisball
- Völkerball
- Wasserball
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French bal.
Noun
Ball m
- (dance) ball (social gathering for dancing), prom (US)
- Synonym: (dance) Tanzball m
Derived terms
- Ballsaal
Related terms
- Fastnachtsball
- Feuerwehrball
- Karnevalsball
- Kostümball
- Maskenball
- Sportlerball
Further reading
- “Ball” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “Ball” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
- “Ball (Sport- und Spielgerät)” in Duden online
- “Ball (Tanzveranstaltung)” in Duden online
Ball on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia de
Limburgish
Etymology 1
From Frankish *ball, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.
Alternative forms
- bal (widespread variant)
- bol, ból, baol (some dialects, mainly in West-Limburg, sense 1, 2, and 3)
- baal
- Balle (Eupen)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ba˨l/
- Hyphenation: Ball
- Rhymes: -al
Noun
Ball m (plural Bäll, diminutive Bälltje)
- (Eupen, Krefeld) ball (round or roundish object, most commonly used in games)
- (Eupen, Krefeld, informal) testicle, nut
- (Eupen, Krefeld, anatomy) ball (of the hand or foot)
- (Eupen, Krefeld, chiefly in the negative) anything
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French bal.
Alternative forms
- bal (most dialects)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ba˦l/
- Hyphenation: Ball
- Rhymes: -al
Noun
Ball m (plural Bäll, diminutive Bälltje)
- (Eupen, Krefeld, dance) ball (social gathering for dancing), prom (US)
Luxembourgish
Etymology
From Middle High German and Old High German bal, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /bal/, [bɑl]
- Rhymes: -ɑl
Noun
Ball m (plural Bäll)
- ball (round object for playing sports)