ballflower
|ball-flow-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈbɔlˌflaʊɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˈbɔːlˌflaʊə/
spherical floral architectural ornament
Etymology
'ballflower' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'ball' + 'flower', where 'ball' meant 'a spherical object' and 'flower' meant 'a blossom or floral shape'.
'ballflower' developed as a compound descriptive term in English architectural vocabulary (Middle/Modern English), formed from the two common words 'ball' and 'flower' to describe a floral-shaped ball ornament; the compounded form was standardized in modern English as 'ballflower'.
Initially used descriptively for any small spherical floral carving or bud; over time it became the established technical term for a specific repeating Gothic architectural ornament.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small architectural ornament consisting of a spherical bud or ball set within a ring of petals or a floral surround, commonly used as a repeating decorative motif in Gothic (especially Decorated Gothic) architecture.
The church's nave was lined with ballflowers carved into the stone stringcourse.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/06 12:40