Middle English Dictionary Entry
bal n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bal n. |
| Etymology | Prob. OE *beal(l (cp. OE bealluc testicle), corresp. to OHG bal & OI böll-r; the earliest examples are Southern. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A round body; sphere, globe, orb; turnen as a ~, to turn as does Fortune's ball; (b) the orb borne together with a scepter as an emblem of sovereignty; (c) a rounded protuberance or boss for ornament; a knob, knop.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)479 : Ane candele, þat is biside ane balle..ȝifth liȝt on þat haluendel.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)654 : Þe eorþe a-midde þe grete se ase a luy[te] bal is round.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)179 : Þe þyef..þrauþ þane little bal in-to þe hondes þrote þet he ne ssel naȝt berke.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.29.3 : I shal cumpasse as a bal [L sphaeram] in thi cumpas.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)107b/b : Axis is a certayn lyne vndirstonde þat strecchiþ streiȝt be þe myddel of a bal.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)521 : His heued ys rouned as a balle and squa ys þe firmament alle.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1506 : Be war of hir þat turneth as a bal.
- ?a1425(c1390) Chaucer Truth (Benson-Robinson)9 : Tempest thee noght al croked to redresse, In trust of hir that turneth as a bal.
- c1430 In May whan euery (Cmb Gg.4.27)p.109 : It was no stedefastnesse In loue to turne as a bal.
b
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)p.35 : Fyrst enteryde Wysdome..wp-on hys hede..a..Crown..In hys leyfte honde a balle of gold with a cros þer-wpp-on, and in [hys] Ryght honde a Regall scheptur.
c
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.25.31 : Thow shalt make a candelstik..and litil balles [WB(2): litle rundelis; L sphærulas], and lilyes goynge out of it.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9887 : [Troy] Thi semely ȝates & thi faire walles, And alle thi crafftly corven balles!
2.
(a) A more or less rounded and compact mass; (b) med. a pill or bolus; (c) a meat-ball.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17443 : Winneð þas stanes alle..for nu ȝe maȝen heom habben [?read: hebben] swulche veðerene balles.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)155b/b : Þis laie casteþ vp balles and clottes of glewe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)103b/b : In puttyng a balle of stupes or cloþ in þe armehole.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2003 : We shul make hym balles ek also Of wex and tow.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)62/4 : Make of hem smale ballis, þat ech bal weiȝe a dragme.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)51a/a : Make þerof pillulas i. smale balles.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)168a/b : Some tyme I make þerof balles with þe Iuse of wormode.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)71/36 : & mak smalle balles of thaym, of þe mekilnes of a doufe egge.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)94/24 : Make þer-off pyllettys and drye hem aȝenst þe sunne..Þese ballys ben goode for festre and for woundis.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)51/3 : Make of hem [herbs] round ballys as hit were a note and let hym drynke hym or ete hem.
c
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.44 : Þis flessh take up in þy honde, And rolle hit on balles.
3.
(a) A ball used in a game; ~ of plai; plaien (at the) ~, play a ball game; rennen at the ~, play hockey; haven the ~, be in possession of the ball, have the advantage; (b) a game played with a ball; plai at the ~, plaiing of balles; ~ plai, a ball game; fig. something easy, child's play; (c) ~ plaier, a ball player; (d) ~ staf, a stick used to strike the ball in certain games [see quot. a1475 in (a)].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24703 : Summe heo driuen balles wide ȝeond þa feldes; Monianes kunnes gomen þer heo gunnen driuen.
- c1300 SLeg.Cuth.(LdMisc 108)4 : With ȝounge children he pleide at þe bal.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)89/1870 : Wiȝ þat bal to gider þai plaid.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)661 : Þe þrid [master] hym techeþ to pleye atte bal [vr. play at bal].
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)296 : Off the Tenetz to winne or lese a chace, Mai no lif wite er that the bal be ronne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5496 : For falshede ay wil ageyn rebounde..to his original Resorte ageyn, riȝt as doth a bal.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)21 : Balle of pley: Pila.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Look TM (Hrl 2255)117 : Lat fals presumpcioun pley bal vndir foote.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)16/19 : Whane he playd there at the pawme, the ballis that he plaid withe oft ranne yn at that fowle hole.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2580 : And with the help of our soveren lord celestiall, They shull be behynd, & wee shul have þe ball.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11182 : Pleye at the cloos..I shal, And somwhyle Rennyn at the bal Wyth a Staff mad lyk an hook.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)125 : Iij heddelyse men playd at ball, I heddelyse man seruit them all.
- a1500 Man be war or (BodPoet e.1)p.34 : I saw iij hedles playen at a ball.
- a1500 In all this warld (BodPoet e.1)p.278 : He is loved ouer all Among maydens..In daunsyng, in pypynge, and rennyng at the ball.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)49a : Al þe wa of þis world..al nis bute bal plohe.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)59a : I þe forme ȝeres nis bute balplohe [Nero: balpleouwe; Recl.: bal play] to monie men of ordre.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)22 : Balpley, or pley at þe balle: Pililudus.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)336 : Bal and bares and suche play, Out of chyrcheȝeorde put a-way.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)230/38 : Ȝif he dye sodeynly as in playingis of balles.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)22 : Balpleyere: Pililudius, lipidulus, ludipilus.
d
- (1301) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.507 : [Thouse..beat the said William..with a stick called a] balstaf.
- (c1322) Coroner R.in Seld.Soc.973 : Gilbertus Biestoun..moritur..habens quandam plagam in fronte cum quodam balstaf.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)153 : 'He berith a balstaff,' quod the toon, '& els a rakis ende.'
4.
The head; ~ in the hod, a warrior's helmeted head.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)394 : Þer was mani heued ofhitt..Mani hert forles his blod, & mani þe bal vp in þe hod.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6471 : Many of his kniȝttes gode Loren þe balles in þe hode.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)1649 : Þere nas none þat myȝt hym hyde, That thay ne lore in þat tyde Þe balles in here hod.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)8/211 : He ðrew þat hedde..Into þe lady barm, And seyde, 'Pley þe with þat ball!'
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)20/388 : I shrew thi ball vnder thi hode.
5.
A rounded missile or shot used in warfare.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.297 : Þe men of þat lond..vseþ balles [L pilis] and alblastres.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4312 : Ful many Grek..was..betyn of with grete rounde ballys, That her lay on..And þe noyse..of gonne-shot..loude out-ronge.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)104b : Grete balles of herdes I-dipped in oyle & I-strowed wel wiþ Brynston, & while þe enemyes [slepen], fyre þese balles & þrowe hem into þe gyn.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)828 : Þe barn..was born vp as a bal ouer þe burwe walles.
6.
(a) The eyeball; ~ of the eie, ~ of sight; (b) the white of the eye.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Paris n.a. lat.699)p.49 : Ye bal of ye ye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1314 : Eche bal Gan turnen vp of his dedly eye.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)14a/b : Þe hole of the balle of the eyȝe.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)137b/b : Afore þe pupille i. þe balle of þe eyȝe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)21 : Balle of þe ye: Pupilla.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)59/26 : Þis wyl hele þe ball of a mannys eye, þow it were kyt or hwrte with a roodde.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)92 : Hieme is a stone þe wiche a best berethe..in þe bale of his ye.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)19/2 : Every teere of myne eyen, for greetnesse semed they boren out the bal of my sight.
b
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)124/19 : In euery hole eye be thre partys: that ys, the qwyte or the balle off the eye, the cerkyl [etc.].
7.
The ball of the foot; the cushion of muscles at the base of the hand.
Associated quotations
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)46 : Taloun, pee, plaunte, et kyuyl: Hele, fot, bal, and ancle.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)8a : A Balle of þe hand or of þe fote: Callus.
8.
A testicle [cp. ballok].
Associated quotations
- a1325 Prov.Hend.(Cmb Gg 1.1)st.42 : Þe maide þat ȝevit hirsilf alle Oþir to fre man oþir to þralle..And pleiit with þe croke and wiþ þe balle, And mekit gret þat erst was smalle.
- a1456 Of alle þe craftes (Add 16165)p.37 : Of my ploughe þe best stott is balle.
9.
A spherical receptacle.
Associated quotations
- [ a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)597 : In a vessel rounde, mad as a bal, They closed hem [ashes]. ]
- (1423) RParl.4.219 : Item, l Muskball d'or.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4935 : My muske bal of gold.
10.
A knoll, rounded hill; -- only in names.
Associated quotations
- (1166) in Pipe R.Soc.926 : Alfwinus Attebal.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3258 : Henricus atte Balle.
- (1386) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames5 : Rlc. atte Balle.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1425-6) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.190/1565 : John Bron, and The huxtere atte balle yn þe Shameles.
Note: Appears to refer to two people (in a list of persons fined for mismeasured ale), 'John Bron' and 'the huckster', both at a place called 'Ball' (?i.e. an alehouse with 'ball' as its sign) in the Shambles (market). Though 'at Ball' could be a toponymic name element, as in sense 10, it is more likely simply (the pictorial representation of) a 'ball'.
- c1225 Wor.Gloss.(Corp-C 178)701/446 : [Berode to] welerum [glossed:] balles.
Note: Paraphrasing Vulg. Dan. 14.26 (from the Bel and Dragon addition): 'fecitque massas' "made lumps" (which Daniel fed to the Dragon and caused it to burst). 'Welerum' should normally be the dative plural of OE 'weler' n. "lip"; Pope posits a semantic development of 'weler' paralleled elsewhere from 'lip' to 'lipfull, morsel,' in which case the ME gloss 'balles' is an appropriate gloss, as it is for the underlying Latin. Place under sense 2 (a), which this quot. predates.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. ball.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 6.), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. ball of the eye.