1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ball  \Ball\  (b[add]l),  n.  [OE.  bal,  balle;  akin  to  OHG.  balla, 
  palla,  G.  ball,  Icel.  b["o]llr,  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. 
 
  2.  A  spherical  body  of  any  substance  or  size  used  to  play 
  with  as  by  throwing,  knocking,  kicking,  etc 
 
  3.  A  general  name  for  games  in  which  a  ball  is  thrown, 
  kicked,  or  knocked.  See  {Baseball},  and  {Football}. 
 
  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}. 
 
  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. 
 
  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  inking  the  form  but  now  superseded  by  the  roller. 
 
  7.  A  roundish  protuberant  portion  of  some  part  of  the  body; 
  as  the  ball  of  the  thumb;  the  ball  of  the  foot. 
 
  8.  (Far.)  A  large  pill,  a  form  in  which  medicine  is  commonly 
  given  to  horses;  a  bolus.  --White. 
 
  9.  The  globe  or  earth.  --Pope. 
 
  Move  round  the  dark  terrestrial  ball.  --Addison. 
 
  {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. 
 
  Syn:  See  {Globe}. 

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