Dictionary

highball en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈhaɪˌbɑl/ (US)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From high + ball, of the same railroad origins as lowball.

Meanings

1. A cocktail made from a spirit plus soda water etc.
2. (US) An all clear or full speed ahead signal.
   • A white ball hauled up to the crossbar indicated that the track was clear; a black ball, run up half way, meant stop. This was the origin of the use of the word "highball" to indicate a clear line ahead, which is still used in U.S.A. railway practice. 1946 November and December, “Notes and News: The American Highball”, in Railway Magazine, page 382:
3. A very high bouldering problem, often with a hard landing.
   • 2014, EpicTV.com Austrian all rounder Alex Luger climbs what he describes as a highball boulder problem and what most people would call a solo.
4. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping) Clipping of highball glass, a tall glass tumbler used for serving highballs.
   alt of highball glass
   • It's great for serving heavier drinks in. Highballs and pint glasses are excellent substitutes. 2021, Kate Calder, Three Ingredient Cocktails: 60 Drinks Made in Minutes:

Forms

Deriveds

highball glass · highballer

Descendants

ハイボール · ハイ

Translations (5)

fi grogi (type of cocktail) · nb pjolter (type of cocktail) · es jaibol (type of cocktail) · sv grogg (type of cocktail) · bg хайбол (type of cocktail)

highball en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈhaɪˌbɑl/ (US)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From high + ball, of the same railroad origins as lowball.

Meanings

1. To make an estimate which tends toward exaggeration.
   • If we highball the price, it comes out to $240. If we lowball it, it's closer to $200.
2. (US, dated, possibly, slang) To move quickly; to hightail.
   • The water-level route, the whistle and the loud staccato exhaust of this great engine recalled most vividly memories of the New York Central Hudsons highballing along the Hudson River between Harmon and Albany! 1960 October, P. Ransome-Wallis, “Modern motive power of the German Federal Railway: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, page 613:
   • Booster-equipped 628 highballs west at Glen Lake, Minn., back in 1947. 1959, Steam's Finest Hour, edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co. (photo caption)

Forms

Antonyms

lowball

Translations (1)

fi yliarvioida (to make a high estimate)