Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ball, Baw, n.¹ Also: bal, balle, bale; baa. [ME. balle, bal (c 1200), ON. ball-, bǫllr, and OF. balle.]

1. A ball used in playing games. Cf. fute-, golf-ball.c1420 Ratis R. 1244 (at baris, and at the ball). 1503–4 Treas. Acc. II. 418 (for golf clubbes and balles). a1500 Doug. K. Hart 924 (at ball and boull). 1532 Treas. Acc. VI. 29 (for bawis tynt in caiche pule). a1568 Scott v. 10 (to play vpcoill with the bawis). 1568 Pref. Lynd. 5 (quhen thay had the ball at thair fute).

2. A globe or round body.a1500 Bk. Chess 243 (this round ball). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxv. 79 (bricht ball cristall). a1605 Montg. Misc. P. l. 39 (the goldin ball to bruik alone). 1596 Dalr. II. 248/12 (tha turnet ȝerd in certane balis). 1597 Bk. Rates 2 b (ballis for wasching).

3. A testicle. (Cf. Ball-cod, Bawstane.)c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 104 (thy bawis hingis throw thy breik); xxxiii. 87. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 59 (whether thow wilt let belt thy bawes). 1629 Lowther's Journal 20 (he would show him a buck that would let him take him by the baaes).

4. Attrib. in ball lok. 1581 Edinb. Test. IX. 106.
Tua dosane foure cant lokkis, price xxx s. Item ane dosane ball lokkis, price xv s.