tetherball

American  

[teth-er-bawl] / ˈtɛð ərˌbɔl /

noun

tetherballs plural

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tetherballs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tetherball

First recorded in 1895–1900; tether + ball ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tetherball tetherballs

Americans naturally are drawn to major events and probably would come out in droves to watch tiddlywinks or tetherball if you could convince them it was the most important tournament in the sport.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

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

From Salon ● May 4, 2025

“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 ● Sep. 21, 2023

I practiced picking up bright-colored polygons and dropping them to the ground, played tetherball, operated a drone, and swing-danced with a character who bore a resemblance to the M&Ms mascot.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 2, 2019

He held the tetherball up again to serve.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

Soccer balls were being kicked, basketballs were being dribbled, tetherballs were being socked.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2024