eight-ball

English

noun
Definitions
  • A pocket billiards (pool) game played with sixteen balls (a cue ball and fifteen object balls) on a pool table with six pockets.
  • The billards ball, almost always black, bearing the number eight.
  • (slang) A portion of cocaine or methamphetamine weighing of an ounce, or 3.5 grams.
  • (ethnic slur) A black person.

Etymology

Compound from English eight + English ball (testicle, round object).

Origin

English

ball

Gloss

testicle, round object

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms