tetherball

American  

[teth-er-bawl] / ˈtɛð ərˌbɔl /

noun

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of tetherball

First recorded in 1895–1900; tether + ball ¹

Example Sentences

"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

Among the featured videos are a horse playing tetherball, fish in a feeding frenzy and a pig who keeps losing his grip.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2020

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

The cement was cooling, and the tetherball poles made shadows across the gravel.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston