Obs. [f. Who(w), variant of HO int.2 + BALL sb.2 2, a typical proper name of a horse (see Plowman’s T., 402 my hors Ball, and quot. a. 1697 below), of a sheep (Promp. Parv., 22/1), of a dog (Privy Purse Exp. Henry VIII., 43), and of a cow (see quot. 1785).
a. 1697. Audrey, Lives, Fleetwood (1898), I. 253. [Highwaymen] brought him under the gallowes, fastned the rope about his neck and on the tree,… and then left him to the mercy of his horse, which he called Ball. So he cryed ‘Ho, Ball! Ho, Ball!’ and it pleased God that his horse stood still.]
(See quots.) John Whoball: app. a typical name for a yokel.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Andria, 17. Se deludi facile haud patitur. You cannot easily make him a foole. He is none of Iohn whoballs children.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Whow-ball, a Milk-maid.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., Whow-ball, a milkmaid, from their frequent use of the word whow, to make the cow stand still in milking; Ball is the supposed name of the cow.
