Where does “ball” come from?
I need to work through this carefully. The chain appears to have repetitions and cycles, which is unusual. Let me parse what's actually here:
The chain lists: English billion, English black, Ancient Greek βάλλω, English billion, English black, English billion, English black, English black
This doesn't make etymological sense as presented. The chain seems corrupted or circular. However, I notice:
- βάλλω (ballō) is Ancient Greek meaning "to throw"
- The headword is "ball" (English)
- The chain includes these elements but in a problematic sequence
Given the rules state "State only what the chain supports. Do not invent dates, cognates, or intermediate steps," and this chain is incoherent, I cannot write an accurate one-sentence summary that follows the chain as given.
If I assume this is an error and the intended chain is simply: English ball
ball (English): A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical...
Definitions
- A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical...
Ancestry of “ball”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | ball | Alternative form of bal; Alternative form of bale |
| 2 | Middle English | bal | A ball; A rounded or spherical lump or bump,... |
| 3 | Old English | beall | ball |
| 4 | English | beal | A small inflammatory tumor; pustule; To gather... |
| 5 | Old English | hyll | hill |
| 6 | Albanian | hulli | furrow |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | hulliz | hill |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kl̥Hnís | hill |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kelH- | to rise, to be tall; hill |
Words derived from “ball”