highball

American  

[hahy-bawl] / ˈhaɪˌbɔl /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (intr) to move at great speed

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

Etymology

Origin of highball

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

highball

We were in a fierce seller’s market and this was typical: Friends of ours in Boston had been making wild highball offers for years, and had always been outbid.

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026

The Declaration of Independence appeared on highball glasses, tea towels and collectible plates.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

A highball is perfect to show off the colorful assortment of cranberries, sliced honeycrisp apples and wheels of orange citrus artfully set off by one final garnish: a single woodsy star anise.

From Salon ● Dec. 28, 2023

Fill a highball glass with ice, and, if you like lime, wet the rim and inside of the glass with lime juice.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 28, 2023

Sipping a highball after dinner, hearing the rushing of water in the electric dishwasher in the kitchen, I brought up a question that had puzzled me.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

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Related Words

• accost
• acknowledge
• address
• approach
• attend
• embrace
• hail
• meet
• receive
• salute
• shake hands
• stop

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