Forms: 6–7 fus(se)bal(l, 7, 9, fuss-, 7–9 fuz-, 7– fuzz-ball. [f. FUZZ sb.1 + BALL.] A popular name of the fungus Lycoperdon Bovista, puff-ball.
1597. Gerarde, Herball, III. clxii. 1386. In English Puffes Fistes, & Fussebals in the north.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Adelphi, II. ii. He hath made … my head as soft as a fusball with buffets.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 328. With a Fusse-ball, or some sharpe smoake, smoake them to death.
1648. Sanderson, Serm., II. 245. They write of the Apples of Sodom, that look very fair and full, and tempt the eye, but as soon as touched … like a fuss-ball, resolve all into dust and smoak.
1755. Gentl. Mag., XXV. 585. The spungey internal part of the common fuz-ball has been used as a styptic being applied to wounds, and is mentioned by several authors as a powerful one; but at present it is not much in use.
1825. Waterton, Wanderings in South America, I. 26. Tread on it [tree trunk], and like the fuss-ball, it will break into dust.
1863. Mrs. Whitney, Faith Gartner’s Girlhood, iv. 25. The tiny, red, puckered face, with short, sandy-colored hair standing up about the temples like a fuzz-ball.
transf. and fig. 1664. Power, Experimental Philosophy, I. 7. The Gray or Horse-Fly. Her legs all joynted and knotted … and all hairy and slit at the ends into two toes, both which are lined with two white sponges or fuzballs.
1679. Dryden, Troilus & Cr., II. iii. You empty fuzz-balls, your heads are full of nothing else but proclamations.
1698. J. Fryer, A New Account of East-India and Persia, 291. When they [Hedge-hogs] fear any harm towards them, gather themselves into a round Fuz ball.
attrib. 1648. Herrick, Hesper., ‘Oberon’s Feast’ (1869), 126–7.
| A little fuz-ball pudding stands | |
| By, yet not blessed by his hands, | |
| That was too coorse. |
