wash-ball

== English == === Alternative forms === wash ball, washball === Etymology === From wash +‎ ball. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈwɒʃˌbɔːl/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈwɔʃˌbɔl/, /ˈwɑʃˌbɔl/ Hyphenation: wash‧ball === Noun === wash-ball (plural wash-balls) (archaic) A ball or cake of substance used for bathing or personal cleansing, or to produce a lather for shaving; a ball of soap. 1749, Tobias Smollett, translating Alain-René Lesage, Gil Blas, volume I, London: Thomas M'Lean [et al.], 1819, OCLC 697631796, page 163: […] I don't trouble myself with clothes, linen, and other useless baggage; but resolving to have nothing superfluous, fill my knapsack with belly-timber, my razors, and a wash-ball. 1777, Susanna Centlivre, The Wonder! A Woman Keeps a Secret, in The New English Theatre, Vol. XI, London: J. Rivington & Sons, J. Dodsley. T. Lowndes, T. Caslon, W. Nicoll, S. Bladon, &c., 1777, OCLC 723029323, Act II, page 16: Vio[lante]. Why, ſure you are in love Liſſardo; did not you ſay, but now, you had balls where you have been? / Liſſ[ardo]. Balls, madam! Odſlife, I aſk your pardon, madam! I, I, I, had miſlaid ſome waſh-balls of my maſter's, t'other day; and becauſe I could not think where I had lain them, juſt when he aſkt for them, he very fairly broke my head, madam, and now, it ſeems, I can think of nothing elſe. ==== Quotations ==== For more quotations using this term, see Citations:wash-ball.