type of alcoholic drink, 1898, probably from ball "drink of whiskey;" high (adj.) because it is served in a tall glass. The word also was in use around the same time as railway jargon for the signal to proceed (originally by lifting a ball).
higgledy-piggledy
high
high hat
high horse
high seas
highball
high-born
highboy
highbrow
high-chair
high-class
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