subs. (once literary: not now in polite use).—A testicle: also BALLOCK-STONE; and (short) BALL. Hence BALLOCK-COD = the scrotum; BALLOCKS! (or ALL BALLS!) = a derisive retort (cf. Cojones = a Spanish oath). As verb (TO GO BALLOCKING, or DO A BALLOCKING) = to copulate: see RIDE: also (of women) TO GET A PAIR OF BALLS AGAINST ONE’S BUTT. Also TO GET UP TO ONE’S BALLS = to effect intromission. Whence TO MAKE BALLS OF = to make a mistake; go to WRONG (q.v.), TO BUGGER (or BITCH) UP (q.v.). BALLOCKS-STONES = a term of endearment (PALSGRAVE, Acolastius, 1540).
c. 1000. Glossary [T. WRIGHT, A Volume of Vocabularies, 265. Testiculi, BEALLUCAS. Ibid., 539. Omembrana, BALLUC cod. Ibid., 677. Piga, BALLOKE CODE.
[?] MS. Bib. Reg., 17 A. iii. f. 149. For swellinge of BALLOKIS [a medical receipt].
1382. WYCLIF, Bible, Leviticus, xxii. 24. Al beeste that … kilt and taken away the BALLOKES is. [Authorised Version = ‘that is … cut.’]
c. 1460. Towneley Mysteries, 236.
| I have brysten both my BALOK STONES, | |
| So fast hyed I hedyr. |
1486. The Boke of Saint Albans, ‘Hawking,’ C. viii. Geue hir the BALOCKES of a Buc.
1579. G. BAKER, Guydon’s Questionary of Cyrurgyens, 33, s.v.
1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, I. xiii. Who his foul tail with paper wipes, Shall at his BALLOCKS leave some chips. Ibid., II. i. True BALLOCKEERING blades.
1721–1800. BAILEY, English Dictionary, s.v.
d. 1796. [BURNS, The Merry Muses (c. 1800), 15]. ‘For a’ that and a’ that.’
| His hairy BALLS baith side and wide, | |
| Hang like a beggar’s wallet. | |
| Ibid., ‘As I looked o’er yon castle wa’ [quoted by Burns in a letter to George Thomson]. | |
| He plac’d his Jacob whare she did piss, | |
| An’ his BALLS where the wind did blaw. |
