snowball etymology

Etymology

Snowball is a compound word consisting of:

• Snow: From the Old English word "snaw," meaning frozen water vapor that falls from the sky.
• Ball: From the Middle English word "balle," meaning a spherical object.

Meaning

A snowball is:

• A ball of snow, typically formed by compressing loose snow together with one's hands or a mold.
• A small, white, rounded mass of ice or snow that falls from the sky during a hailstorm.
• (Figuratively) Something that rapidly accumulates or grows in size, like a rolling snowball.

Origin

The word "snowball" first appeared in the 14th century. It originally referred to a type of small, spherical hailstone that fell during a hailstorm. Over time, the meaning expanded to include any ball of snow formed by human hands or naturally occurring.

Historical Usage

Snowballs have been used in various ways throughout history, including:

• Play: Children often form snowballs for recreation, throwing them at each other or building snow sculptures.
• Weaponry: In some cultures, snowballs have been used as projectiles in snowball fights or as distractions in wartime.
• Transportation: In snowy regions, people have sometimes used hollowed-out snowballs as sleighs for children or sleds for transporting small objects.

snowball relate terms

• ball

  Etymology French balle Latin palla ball Meaning and Origin The word ball come

• ballocks

  Etymology The word ballocks is derived from the Middle English word ballok which was

• snow

  Etymology The English word snow is derived from Proto Germanic snaiwaz which is belie

• increase

  Etymology The word increase comes from the Old French word encroistre which is deriv

• pelt

  Etymology Pelt comes from the Proto Germanic word pell which also gave rise to the

• bombard

  Etymology The word bombard originates from the French word bombarde which in turn i

• sweet

  Etymology The word sweet comes from the Old English word swēte which itself evolve

• sand

  Etymology The word sand comes from the Old English word sand which is thought to be

• consumption

  Etymology Old French consumpcion Latin consumptionem past participle of consumere t

• ring

  Etymology The word ring derives from the Old English word hring which is cognate wit

• sphere

  Etymology The word sphere comes from the Latin word sphaera which in turn comes from

• spick and span

  Etymology Spick of uncertain origin possibly from Dutch spikken to spot or obsolet

• precipitate

  Etymology Late Latin praecipitat praecipitatus past participle of praecipitare to h