ball-buster en · NOUN
Etymology
Unknown. By surface analysis, ball + buster. Possibly derived from Yiddish בעל־הביתטע (baleboste, “mistress, lady of the house”), in which case synonyms like ball-breaker and ball-wracker may be secondary derivations. See also Beelzebub for connotations of the same supposed first element. Any deverbal formation conflated with back-breaking may have reinforced the native development.
Meanings
- (US, vulgar) Synonym of ball-breaker.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ballbuster | alternative | lexicographic | |
| ball-busters | Number=Plur | lexicographic |