Where does “ball” come from?

ball (Norwegian Nynorsk) 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 (Norwegian Nynorsk): a ball; ball

Definitions

  1. a ball; ball

Ancestry of “ball”, step by step

ball traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via French bal

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

via Old Norse bǫllr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsebǫllrround object, sphere, ball; testicle
2Proto-Germanicballuzround object, ball; ball of the hand, foot, etc
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-—

Words derived from “ball”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →Every word from Ancient Greek βαλλίζω →Every word from Late Latin ballare →