Английский Этимологический словарь - ball (1)

- "round object," O.E., from O.N. bollr "ball," from P.Gmc. *balluz (O.E. bollock "testicle" is a dim.), related to PIE base *bhel- "to swell." To be on the ball is 1912, from sports. Ball-point pen first recorded 1947. The verb meaning "copulate" is first recorded 1940s in jazz slang; balls "courage, nerve" is from 1920s; ball-buster first attested 1950.