Ball

See also: ball, bal, bál, bål, and Bäll

English

Etymology

Multiple theories and origins.

From a short form of the Middle English given name Baldwin.
A toponymic surname for a person that lives near a knoll or rounded hill (i.e. somewhere shaped like a ball).
From the Old Norse given name Balle.
A habitational surname for a person from Ball, Cornwall.

Proper noun

Ball

An English surname.

Derived terms

Ballston

German

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /bal/
Audio (file)
Rhymes: -al

Etymology 1

From Old High German bal, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.

Noun

Ball m (genitive Balls or Balles, plural Bälle, diminutive Bällchen n)

ball (round or roundish object, most often used for games)

Usage notes

The German words Kugel and Ball are usually distinguished inasmuch as the former refers to solid balls (such as those used for billiards or bowling) while the latter refers to air-filled or elastic balls (such as tennis or soccer balls). This distinction may be neglected colloquially or jokingly.

Declension

Declension of Ball

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Ball	die	Bälle
genitive	eines	des	Balles, Balls	der	Bälle
dative	einem	dem	Ball, Balle¹	den	Bällen
accusative	einen	den	Ball	die	Bälle

¹Now uncommon, see notes

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French bal.

Noun

Ball m

(dance) ball (social gathering for dancing), prom (US)

Synonyms

Tanzball m (dance)

Derived terms

Ballsaal

Luxembourgish

Etymology

From Old High German bal, from Proto-Germanic *balluz.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /bɑl/
Rhymes: -ɑl

Noun

Ball m (plural Bäll)

ball (round object for playing sports)

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