Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ballplayer” come from?

Ballplayer derives from English ball, which comes from Ancient Greek βάλλω meaning to throw.

ballplayer (English): Alternative form of ball player

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of ball player

Ancestry of “ballplayer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishball playerA player of a ball game; especially a basketball,...
2EnglishBallsurname
3Middle EnglishbalA ball; A rounded or spherical lump or bump,...
4Old Englishbeallball
5EnglishbealA small inflammatory tumor; pustule; To gather...
6Old Englishhyllhill
7Albanianhullifurrow
8Proto-Germanichullizhill
9Proto-Indo-Europeankl̥Hníshill
10Proto-Indo-EuropeankelH-to rise, to be tall; hill
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelH- →