[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

ball \ball\ baddl, n. oe. bal, balle; akin to ohg. balla,
   palla, g. ball, icel. b"ollr, ball; cf. f. balle. cf. 1st
   bale, n., pallmall.
   1. any round or roundish body or mass; a sphere or globe; as,
      a ball of twine; a ball of snow.
      1913 webster

   2. a spherical body of any substance or size used to play
      with, as by throwing, knocking, kicking, etc.
      1913 webster

   3. a general name for games in which a ball is thrown,
      kicked, or knocked. see baseball, and football.
      1913 webster

   4. any solid spherical, cylindrical, or conical projectile of
      lead or iron, to be discharged from a firearm; as, a
      cannon ball; a rifle ball; -- often used collectively; as,
      powder and ball. spherical balls for the smaller firearms
      are commonly called bullets.
      1913 webster

   5. pyrotechnics  mil. a flaming, roundish body shot into
      the air; a case filled with combustibles intended to burst
      and give light or set fire, or to produce smoke or stench;
      as, a fire ball; a stink ball.
      1913 webster

   6. print. a leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle
      called a ballstock; -- formerly used by printers for
      inking the form, but now superseded by the roller.
      1913 webster

   7. a roundish protuberant portion of some part of the body;
      as, the ball of the thumb; the ball of the foot.
      1913 webster

   8. far. a large pill, a form in which medicine is commonly
      given to horses; a bolus. --white.
      1913 webster

   9. the globe or earth. --pope.
      1913 webster

            move round the dark terrestrial ball. --addison.
      1913 webster

   10. baseball a pitched ball, not struck at by the batter,
       which fails to pass over the home plate at a height not
       greater than the batter's shoulder nor less than his knee
       i.e. it is outside the strike zone. if the pitcher
       pitches four balls before three strikes are called, the
       batter advances to first base, and the action of pitching
       four balls is called a walk.
       webster 1913 suppl. +pjc

   10. a testicle; usually used in the plural. vulgar
       pjc

   11. pl. courage; nerve. vulgar
       pjc

   ball and socket joint, a joint in which a ball moves within
      a socket, so as to admit of motion in every direction
      within certain limits.

   ball bearings, a mechanical device for lessening the
      friction of axle bearings by means of small loose metal
      balls.

   ball cartridge, a cartridge containing a ball, as
      distinguished from a blank cartridge, containing only
      powder.

   ball cock, a faucet or valve which is opened or closed by
      the fall or rise of a ball floating in water at the end of
      a lever.

   ball gudgeon, a pivot of a spherical form, which permits
      lateral deflection of the arbor or shaft, while retaining
      the pivot in its socket. --knight.

   ball lever, the lever used in a ball cock.

   ball of the eye, the eye itself, as distinguished from its
      lids and socket; -- formerly, the pupil of the eye.

   ball valve mach., a contrivance by which a ball, placed
      in a circular cup with a hole in its bottom, operates as a
      valve.

   ball vein mining, a sort of iron ore, found in loose
      masses of a globular form, containing sparkling particles.
      

   three balls, or three golden balls, a pawnbroker's sign
      or shop.

   on the ball alert; competent and knowledgeable.

   to carry the ball to carry on the task; to assume the
      responsibility.

   to drop the ball to fail to perform as expected; to fail to
      live up to a responsibility.
      1913 webster

   syn: see globe.
        1913 webster
see also:
bale pallmall baseball football bullets ball and socket joint 
ball bearings ball cartridge ball cock ball gudgeon ball lever 
ball of the eye ball valve ball vein three balls three golden balls 
on the ball to carry the ball to drop the ball globe 

Three >> T Words
Three, definition of term: Three
three_pag1.html

Golden >> G Words
Golden, definition of term: Golden
golden_pag1.html

Golden Pothos >> G Words
Golden Pothos, definition of term: Golden Pothos
golden+pothos_pag1.html

Golden Parachut >> G Words
Golden Parachut, definition of term: Golden Parachut
golden+parachut_pag1.html

Golden Retrieve >> G Words
Golden Retrieve, definition of term: Golden Retrieve
golden+retrieve_pag1.html

Golden Seal >> G Words
Golden Seal, definition of term: Golden Seal
golden+seal_pag1.html

Golden Trout >> G Words
Golden Trout, definition of term: Golden Trout
golden+trout_pag1.html

Golden Section >> G Words
Golden Section, definition of term: Golden Section
golden+section_pag1.html

Golden Mole >> G Words
Golden Mole, definition of term: Golden Mole
golden+mole_pag1.html

Golden Rule >> G Words
Golden Rule, definition of term: Golden Rule
golden+rule_pag1.html

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