volleyball English · revision 15466

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1896}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈvɒlibɔ(ː)l/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|volley|ball]], volley in the sporting sense of a hit of the ball in flight,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) so called because the ball must be returned before it touches the ground.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ 1896 in Etymonline and Merriam-Webster.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ According to Hendrickson, William Morgan, the YMCA director in Holyoke, Massachusetts, invented the game in 1895 and first called it ''mintonette''.^(Hendrickson 2008)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1895 – the game invented as mintonette.^(Hendrickson 2008)

+ * 1896 – volleyball.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A game in which two teams, usually of six players, hit a large ball by hand back and forth over a high [[net]], trying to make it land on the other side.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # The ball used in this game.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[volleyballer]]

+ * [[wallyball]]

+ * [[beach volleyball]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[volley]]

+ * [[ball]]

+ * [[netball]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}