Meaning
An inflatable buoyant object, often (but not necessarily) round and flexible.
Etymology
Origin: Latin
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der. Proto-Germanic *balluz Frankish *ballubor. Medieval Latin balla Italian palla Proto-Indo-European *-ōder. Proto-Indo-European *-Hōder.? Latin -ōnem Italian -one Italian pallonebor. ▲ Italian pallonebor. Middle French ballonbor.? English balloon First use appears c. 1591, "a game played with a large, inflated leather ball" (possibly via Middle French ballon) from Italian pallone (“large ball”) from palla (“ball”), from Lombardic *palla. The Northern Italian form, balla (“ball-shaped bundle”), today a doublet, likely derived from Old French balle, from Frankish *balla (“ball”), and may have influenced the spelling of this word. Both Germanic words are from Proto-Germanic *ballô (“ball”), *balluz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰoln- (“bubble”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blow, swell, inflate”). Akin to Old High German ballo, bal (“ball”), (German Ballen (“bale”); Ball "ball"). Doublet of ballon. More at ball.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 8 recorded puzzles: