highball

[ hahy-bawl ]

noun

1. a drink of whiskey mixed with club soda or ginger ale and served with ice in a tall glass.
2. Railroads.
   1. a signal to start a train, given with the hand or with a lamp.
   2. a signal for a train to move at full speed.
3. Military Slang. a hand salute.

verb (used without object)

1. Slang. to move at full speed.

verb (used with object)

1. to signal to (the engineer of a train) to proceed.

highball

/ ˈhaɪˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a long iced drink consisting of a spirit base with water, soda water, etc
2. (originally in railway use) a signal that the way ahead is clear and one may proceed

verb

1. intr to move at great speed
2. tr to drive (a vehicle) at great speed

Word History and Origins

Origin of highball¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; high + ball ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of highball¹

C19: (in sense 2) from the early railway signal consisting of a ball hoisted to the top of a pole

Example Sentences

Ned, hiding from his father with the only true comfort he knows, a highball glass, is also a part of the playroom club.

From Time

Usually made with gin or bourbon, it’s a similarly tart, bubbly highball, also made with lime and a slightly saline mineral water, also perfect for defying wretched summers.

From Washington Post

So it only seems fitting to break out the ice and make highballs or other cooling concoctions.

From The Daily Beast

Pursuit of happiness at our house involved a highball for Dad and an Old Fashioned for Mom.

From The Daily Beast

Having completed her quorum, and distributed her tickets, Mrs. Neff made ready to depart by attacking her highball again.

From Project Gutenberg

She put out her hand to him, but he did not see it; he set off to find some one to lead him to a Scotch highball.

From Project Gutenberg

Say, they had a highball or that,—all he had to do was to drop the tiniest speck from the little vial into the drink.

From Project Gutenberg

I believe you had reached the highball incident in your recital.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not particularly significant that I started the summer on Highball and ended it on Budweiser.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hello
• nod
• ovation
• reception
• salute