Where does “smut-ball” come from?

smut-ball (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.

smut-ball (English): A fungus of the genus Tilletia; a puffball

Definitions

  1. A fungus of the genus Tilletia; a puffball

Ancestry of “smut-ball”, step by step

smut-ball 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 smut

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsmutSoot; A flake of ash or soot; Sexually vulgar...
2Middle Englishsmuttento defile, debase
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelH-