[Ads-l] "Basketball" (The Ball) Not in OED

[mr_peter_morris@outlook.com]

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Report_of_the_Regents/3uc9AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22+basket+balls%22&pg=RA13-PA90&printsec=frontcover

University of Wisconsin spent $14 to buy basket balls

1877

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https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Report_of_the_President_of_Bates_College/wx5JAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22+basket+balls%22&pg=RA28-PA38&printsec=frontcover


"basket balls , broadsword blades , etc. , purchased "

1878


------ Original Message ------
From "Shapiro, Fred" <00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Date 31/03/2026 13:47:02
Subject "Basketball" (The Ball) Not in OED

>Surprisingly, the OED does not include a subsense for the word "basketball" meaning the ball itself.  The entries for "baseball" and "football" include subsenses for those balls.
>
>Here is the earliest citation I have found in some very cursory research:
>
>1894 Kalamazoo Gazette 29 May 8/1 (Newspapers.com)  This evening a contest, consisting of throwing a basket ball at the basket will be held at the Y. M. C. A. gymnasium.  Each contestant will be allowed five throws.
>
>Fred Shapiro
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org