Where does “ball” come from?
ball (Middle English) comes 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, from Proto-Indo-European kelH- — to rise, to be tall; hill.
ball (Middle English): Alternative form of bal; Alternative form of bale
Definitions
- Alternative form of bal; Alternative form of bale
Ancestry of “ball”, step by step
ball traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English bal
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bal | A ball; A rounded or spherical lump or bump,... |
| 2 | Old English | beall | ball |
| 3 | English | beal | A small inflammatory tumor; pustule; To gather... |
| 4 | Old English | hyll | hill |
| 5 | Albanian | hulli | furrow |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hulliz | hill |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kl̥Hnís | hill |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kelH- | to rise, to be tall; hill |
via Old English bealla
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | bealla | round object, ball |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | ballô | ball |
via Old Norse bǫllr
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | bǫllr | round object, sphere, ball; testicle |