hairball
|hair-ball|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈhɛrˌbɔl/
🇬🇧
/ˈheəˌbɔːl/
compact mass of hair
Etymology
Etymology Information
'hairball' originates from the combination of 'hair' and 'ball', where 'hair' refers to the strands growing from the skin of mammals and 'ball' refers to a spherical object.
Historical Evolution
'hairball' has remained relatively unchanged in its form and meaning since its inception in the English language.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a ball of hair', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a compact mass of hair that forms in the stomach of a cat or other animal as a result of grooming.
The cat coughed up a hairball.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/25 07:25