Where does “blowball” come from?

blowball (English) comes from English Ball, from Middle English bal, from Old English beall, from English beal, from Old English hyll, from Albanian hulli, from Proto-Germanic hulliz, from Proto-Indo-European kl̥Hnís — to rise, to be tall; hill.

blowball (English): The downy seed head of a dandelion, a dandelion...

Definitions

  1. The downy seed head of a dandelion, a dandelion...

Ancestry of “blowball”, step by step

blowball traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Ball

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBallsurname
2Middle EnglishbalA ball; A rounded or spherical lump or bump,...
3Old Englishbeallball
4EnglishbealA small inflammatory tumor; pustule; To gather...
5Old Englishhyllhill
6Albanianhullifurrow
7Proto-Germanichullizhill
8Proto-Indo-Europeankl̥Hníshill
9Proto-Indo-EuropeankelH-to rise, to be tall; hill

via English blow

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishblowTo produce an air current; To propel by an air...
2Middle EnglishbloweAlternative form of blowen
3Old Englishblōwanto bloom, blossom
4Proto-West Germanicblōanto bloom, to flower
5Proto-Germanicblōanąto bloom, to flower
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰleh₃-bloom, flower
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European kl̥HnísEvery word from Proto-Germanic hulliz