Where does “slowball” come from?

slowball (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.

slowball (English): A pitch that is not a fastball or curveball;...

Definitions

  1. A pitch that is not a fastball or curveball;...

Ancestry of “slowball”, step by step

slowball 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 Slow

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSlowTaking a long time to move or go a short distance, or to perform an action; not quick in motion; proceeding at a low speed
2Middle Englishslaw
3Old Englishslāwsluggish, inert, slothful, late, tardy, torpid,...
4Proto-West Germanic*slaiw
5Proto-Germanicslaiwazblunt; dull; exhausted; weary; faint; weak;...
6Proto-Indo-European(s)lew-to sludge, to wash; loose, limp, flabby; limp,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European kl̥HnísEvery word from Proto-Germanic hulliz