Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

kissing ball

/ˈkɪsɪŋ ˌbɔl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.93 in modern English

Syllables: kiss-ing ball
IPA: /ˈkɪsɪŋ ˌbɔl/

18

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A hanging ornament, often used as a Christmas decoration, made by arranging plant parts, especially sprigs of holly or mistletoe, and evergreen leaves, into a ball shape.

Example Sentences

"The Division Office employees and their families enjoyed a Christmas party at the Highway Patrol clubhouse […] Clara Moran and Jackie Russ were responsible for the decorations—a tree and "kissing ball" of mistletoe …"
"Kissing balls using fresh or dried herbs, flowers, cones, berries, or fresh greens make wonderful holiday decorations."
"And, most certainly we are careful to add the requisite bunch of mistletoe – often including a sprig in a kissing ball suspended in the front entryway. Of course, we always make certain there are plenty of berries on the mistletoe. Each kiss captured beneath the kissing ball necessitates the removal of one of the berries in keeping with the traditional rhyme: / Pluck a berry from the mistletoe / For every kiss that's given. / When the berries are all picked / It brings an end to kissing."
"Dave and Nicole exchanged vows and rings beneath an iron canopy topped and sided in ivory organza, complete with a "kissing ball" bouquet of black roses (matching Nicole's bouquet) hanging from a chain of orchid blossoms."

Etymology

From kissing (noun) + ball (noun), from the custom of people kissing under the suspended ornament: see the 2001 quotation.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkɪsɪŋ ˌbɔl/
British English: /ˈkɪsɪŋ ˌbɔːl/

Inflected Forms

kissing balls (plural)

Rhymes With

et al. sing small set out one's stall withcall besmall yo'll unhaul

Questions

How do you pronounce kissing ball?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɪsɪŋ ˌbɔl/.
What does kissing ball mean?: A hanging ornament, often used as a Christmas decoration, made by arranging plant parts, especially sprigs of holly or mistletoe, and evergreen leaves, into a ball shape.
Where does kissing ball come from?: From kissing (noun) + ball (noun), from the custom of people kissing under the suspended ornament: see the 2001 quotation.

How to pronounce kissing ball

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “kissing ball”.
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