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

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Etymology

Origin of tetherball

First recorded in 1895–1900; tether + ball ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tetherball tetherballs

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

From Salon ● May 4, 2025

She dreamed of her 5-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter growing up in the three-bedroom home that had fruit trees and, at one point, a treehouse and space for tetherball in the backyard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 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

I was all right at tetherball, even if I did flinch once when I thought the ball was going to whack me in the head, and Candace Sims laughed at me.

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

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