tetherball

American

[teth-er-bawl] / ˈtɛð ərˌbɔl /

noun

a game for two persons, in which each player, standing on each side of a post from the top of which a ball is suspended by a cord, hits the ball with the hand or a paddle in a direction opposite to that in which the other player hits it, the object being to coil the cord completely around the post.

Etymology

Origin of tetherball

First recorded in 1895–1900; tether + ball ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He wasn’t allowed to go anywhere near the school, even in summer when there were no classes, so he couldn’t play tetherball at the empty courts.

From Literature

"America, get ready for a historically long recess. I call tetherball."

From Salon

But there are clues: Watch how furiously Charles plays tetherball when no one is looking.

From Los Angeles Times

“You didn’t recognize me in front of tetherball, and you broke my ChapStick that one time, so that’s the totality of Robbin’s bullying experience.”

From Seattle Times

At recess the cool kids play tetherball, which it turns out I’m sort of okay at.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023