highball
[hahy-bawl]
noun
a drink of whiskey mixed with club soda or ginger ale and served with ice in a tall glass.
Railroads.
- a signal to start a train, given with the hand or with a lamp.
- a signal for a train to move at full speed.
Military Slang. a hand salute.
verb (used without object)
Slang. to move at full speed.
verb (used with object)
to signal to (the engineer of a train) to proceed.
Origin of highball
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for highball
jar, jug, bottle, cup, letter, nod, ovation, salute, reception, hello, card, attend, acknowledge, receive, stop, hail, accost, embrace, address, meetExamples from the Web for highball
Contemporary Examples of highball
Historical Examples of highball
Joe finished his highball and came to his feet to get another one.
MercenaryDallas McCord Reynolds
Kennedy finished off his highball and began to build another immediately.
AdaptationDallas McCord Reynolds
I suppose you'll be wanting to join dear Mr. Frazer in a highball; you're such a pet of his.
The Trail of the HawkSinclair Lewis
Next day, along about first-drink time, I felt a craving for a highball.
Cutting It outSamuel G. Blythe
Sensing his need, I brought him a highball, and one for myself.
The Chamber of LifeGreen Peyton Wertenbaker
highball
noun
verb
Word Origin for highball
C19: (in sense 2) from the early railway signal consisting of a ball hoisted to the top of a pole
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper