In the realm of raining cats and dogs

[RJW NZ]

just why is a loaded cartridge and bullet called 'ball'?
If thats a carry over from musketry its not particularly logical, although I concede that a box of bullets is not accurate as a bullet is the projectile, and calling them cartridges is not either as that plainly refers to the brass body, thus these two would be ambiguous. This sort of logic would also negate using the term 'ball'.

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[Paul S.]

The term ball is indeed a carryover, or so I've been told.

[louthepou]

One thing I read - not sure if it's correct though - it's from the French term "balle", i.e. bullet.

[Edward Horton]

In the old days when American colonials were fighting the British which we “never ever” do anymore our American soldiers were issued “Ball” and powder. I’m guessing it’s a carry over BUT I do not want to start another war over it.

At the Battle of Lexington the British fired their muskets into the water at the feet of the Colonial Militia. The response history has recorded was "By God they're firing Ball! Let 'em have it boys!"


CMP Discussion Forum - Military "Ball" ammunition Nomenclature

[smle-man]

I read once that in the U.S. Army it was to differentiate between a solid ball projectile and buck loads both of which were issued during the era of smooth bore muskets. some units issued buck and ball which was a ball and several smaller pellets.

[goo]

early british cannon balls were made out of iron and and stacked in a brass triangle called a monkey. during exceptionally cold weather, the iron cannon balls and the brass monkey would contract at different rates causing the iron cannons balls to fall off the monkey.
hence the term, "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey"

[Peter Laidler]

You always know when it's been raining cats and dogs because the road is full of poodles. Told to me by son Robert, when he was about 5 or so!

[Paul S.]

just why is a loaded cartridge and bullet called 'ball'?

Addressing that question directly, I'd say for the same reason a cartridge with a tracer bullet is called Tracer, or one with an armour piercing inciderary bullet is called... Well, you get the point.

Yes, I know I am stating the obvious, but sometimes the answer is the obvious overlooked.

[RJW NZ]

too obvious for me, I don;t get it, armor piercing incinderary bullet is er AP?So far I haven't seen a loaded cartridge with a round ball in the front. must be too many BLO fumes,, my brain cells have left town.
Would machine gun belts be called balls, or linked balls?

[whiterider]

The way I heard it explained was that the 'common' cartridge, that is not armour piercing, tracer, indendiary or other special purpose was just called 'ball'. A hangover from the days when that was the common musket round...a 'ball'.