Gumball

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɡʌmbɔl/

Definitions

1. A small, brightly colored confection often made with sugar, typically characterized by its spherical shape and chewy texture, commonly dispensed from vending machines for kids' enjoyment
2. These spherical candies are known for their vibrant colors and chewy consistency, often sold in gum machines and favored by children for their various flavors
3. A spherical candy with a chewy texture and bright colors, often dispensed from machines, that appeals particularly to children for its diverse flavors

Etymology: The gumball takes its name from two plain English words set side by side: "gum" and "ball." The gum half traces a long road. Ancient Greek had "kómmi," a resin or gum, which passed into Latin as "cummis" and then into Late Latin as "gumma." It reached English through Anglo-Norman "gome," and by Middle English the word was "gumme," meaning the sticky substance exuded by certain trees and plants. The ball half comes from Old English "beall," a word for a round object, which became "bal" in Middle English and our modern "ball." The compound is recent. Gum and ball were both long established in English before anyone joined them, and the combination describes exactly what the sweet is: a round lump of chewy confection. Its name is a transparent compound rather than a coinage with a dramatic backstory, so the interest lies in how two ancient strands of vocabulary met in a modern candy.

Synonyms: candy ball, sugar ball