Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ball
Ball
(ba̤l)
, Noun.
1.
Any round or roundish body or mass; a sphere or globe;
as, a
. ball
of twine; a ball
of snow2.
A spherical body of any substance or size used to play with, as by throwing, knocking, kicking, etc.
3.
4.
Any solid spherical, cylindrical, or conical projectile of lead or iron, to be discharged from a firearm;
as, a cannon
; – often used collectively; ball
; a rifle ball
as, powder and
. Spherical balls for the smaller firearms are commonly called ball
bullets
. 5.
(Pyrotechnics & Mil.)
A flaming, roundish body shot into the air; a case filled with combustibles intended to burst and give light or set fire, or to produce smoke or stench;
as, a fire
. ball
; a stink ball
6.
(Print.)
A leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle called a ballstock; – formerly used by printers for inking the form, but now superseded by the roller.
7.
A roundish protuberant portion of some part of the body;
as, the
. ball
of the thumb; the ball
of the foot8.
(Far.)
A large pill, a form in which medicine is commonly given to horses; a bolus.
White.
9.
The globe or earth.
Pope.
Move round the dark terrestrial
ball
. Addison.
Ball and socket joint
, a joint in which a ball moves within a socket, so as to admit of motion in every direction within certain limits.
– Ball bearings
, a mechanical device for lessening the friction of axle bearings by means of small loose metal balls.
– Ball cartridge
, a cartridge containing a ball, as distinguished from a blank cartridge, containing only powder.
– Ball cock
, a faucet or valve which is opened or closed by the fall or rise of a ball floating in water at the end of a lever.
– Ball gudgeon
, a pivot of a spherical form, which permits lateral deflection of the arbor or shaft, while retaining the pivot in its socket.
Knight.
– Ball lever
, the lever used in a ball cock.
– Ball of the eye
, the eye itself, as distinguished from its lids and socket; – formerly, the pupil of the eye.
– Ball valve
(Mach.)
, a contrivance by which a ball, placed in a circular cup with a hole in its bottom, operates as a valve.
– Ball vein
(Mining)
, a sort of iron ore, found in loose masses of a globular form, containing sparkling particles.
– Three balls
, or Three golden balls
a pawnbroker’s sign or shop.
– on the ball
alert; competent and knowledgeable.
– to carry the ball
to carry on the task; to assume the responsibility.
– to drop the ball
to fail to perform as expected; to fail to live up to a responsibility.
Syn. – See
Globe
. Ball
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Balled
(ba̤ld)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Balling
.] To gather balls which cling to the feet, as of damp snow or clay; to gather into balls;
as, the horse
. balls
; the snow balls
Ball
,Verb.
T.
1.
(Metal.)
To heat in a furnace and form into balls for rolling.
2.
To form or wind into a ball;
as, to
. ball
cottonWebster 1828 Edition
Ball
BALL
, n.[L. pila; A ball may signify a mass from collecting, or it may be that which is driven, from the root of L. pello; probably the former.]1.
A round body; a spherical substance, whether natural or artificial; or a body nearly round; as, a ball for play; a ball of thread; a ball of snow. 2. A bullet; a ball of iron or lead for cannon, muskets, &c.
3. A printer's ball, consisting of hair or wool, covered with leather or skin, and fastened to a stock, called a ball-stock, and used to put ink on the types in the forms.
4.
The globe or earth, from its figure.5.
A globe borne as an ensign of authority; as, to hold the ball of a kingdom.6.
Any part of the body that is round or protuberant; as, the eye ball; the ball of the thumb or foot.7.
The weight at the bottom of a pendulum.8.
Among the Cornish miners in England, a tin mine.9.
In pyrotechnics, a composition of combustible ingredients, which serve to burn, smoke or give light.Ball-stock, among printers, a stock somewhat hollow at one end, to which balls of skin, stuffed with wool, are fastened, and which serves as a handle.
Ball-vein, among miners, a sort of iron ore, found in loose masses, of a circular form, containing sparkling particles.
Ball and socket, an instrument used in surveying and astronomy, made of brass, with a perpetual screw, to move horizontally, obliquely, or vertically.
Puff-ball, in botany, the Lycoperdon, a genus of fungeses.
Fire-ball, a meteor; a luminous globe darting through the atmosphere; also, a bag of canvas filled with gunpowder, sulphur, pitch, saltpeter, &c.,to be thrown by the hand, or from mortars, to set fire to houses.
BALL
, n.[Gr.to toss or throw; to leap.] An entertainment of dancing; originally and peculiarly, at the invitation and expense of an individual; but the word is used in America, for a dance at the expense of the attendants.19
BALL
,Verb.
I.