Where does “ball” come from?

ball (Icelandic) comes from French bal, from Late Latin ballare, from Ancient Greek βαλλίζω, from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- — to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing.

ball (Icelandic): dance

Definitions

  1. dance

Ancestry of “ball”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchbaldance party, ball
2Late Latinballareto play, dance; to dance; present active...
3Ancient Greekβαλλίζωto dance, jump about
4Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →Every word from Ancient Greek βαλλίζω →Every word from Late Latin ballare →