subs. (old).—1. The head: also BALL IN THE HOOD; BILLIARD-BALL, etc.
c. 1300. Kyng Alisaunder, 6480.
| Ac arst, mony of his knyghtis gode | |
| Loren theo BALLES IN HEORE HODE. |
c. 1325. Richard Coer de Lion, 4523.
| Men of armes the swerdes outbreyde; | |
| BALLES OUT OF HOODES, soone they pleyde. |
c. 1460. Towneley Mysteries, 17. Garcio. I shrew thi BALLE UNDER THI HODE.
c. 1500. Robin Hood (RITSON), i. 1454.
| He ne shall lese his hede, | |
| That is the best BALL IN HIS HODE. |
2. (prison).—A ration: food or drink.
3. (vulgar).—See BALLOCKS.
4. (Winchester).—In pl. = a Junior in College: his duty is to collect footballs from lockers in school and take them through to the Ball-keeper in Commoners to be blown or repaired. The BALL-KEEPER is an Inferior who, for service in looking after cricket and fool-balls, is exempted from KICKING-IN (q.v.) and WATCHING OUT (q.v.).
PHRASES. TO CATCH (or TAKE) THE BALL BEFORE THE BOUND = to anticipate; TO HAVE THE BALL AT ONE’S FOOT (or BEFORE ONE) = to have in one’s power (or at one’s finger-ends); TO OPEN THE BALL = to lead off, to make a start; TO KEEP THE BALL ROLLING (or KEEP UP THE BALL) = to prevent a matter flagging or hanging fire; TO TAKE UP THE BALL = to take one’s turn; whence ‘the BALL’S with you’ = you’re next.
1589. PUTTENHAM, Art of English Poesie, iii. xix. We do preuent them … and do CATCH THE BALL (as they are wont to say) BEFORE IT COME TO THE GROUND.
1645. HOWELL, Familiar Letters, iv. 9. It concerns you not to be over-hasty herein not to TAKE THE BALL BEFORE THE BOUND.
1661. Papers on the Alteration of the Prayer-Book, 24. You HAVE THE BALL BEFORE YOU, and have the wind and sun, and the power of contending without controll.
1781. BENTHAM, Letter to George Wilson [Works (1843), X. 104]. I put a word in now, and then to KEEP THE BALL UP.
c. 1800. AUCKLAND, Correspondence (1862), III. 416. We HAVE THE BALL AT OUR FEET, and if the Government will allow us … the rebellion will be crushed.
1809. WELLINGTON (Dispatches, V. 365]. If the Spaniards had not lost two armies lately, we should KEEP UP THE BALL for another year.
1812. BYRON, Waltz, xiii. Note. Waltz and the battle of Austerlitz are before said to have OPENED THE BALL together.
1876. Eton Chronicle, 20 July. He who OPENED THE BALL and who saw them all fall, Scarce deserved that defeat in one innings.
1878. G. ELIOT, A College Breakfast-Party, 345. Louder Rosencranz TOOK UP THE BALL.
1887. HAGGARD, Allan Quatermain, xi. Sir Henry OPENED THE BALL by firing at the three-parts grown young one.
CALL THE BALL, intj. phr. (Stonyhurst).—The ‘Foul!’ of Association football.
THREE BRASS (or GOLDEN) BALLS. See THREE BALLS.
