# ball of malt

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ball-of-malt
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A glass of whiskey.

## Examples

- He enjoyed a quiet ball of malt after work.
- After a long day in the cold, he sat by the fire and ordered a ball of malt.
- The old friends gathered at the tavern, each savoring a smooth ball of malt while they reminisced about their youth.

## Origin

From *ball*, a term for a glass, and *malt*, denoting whiskey. The compound serves as an informal Irish designation for a measure of the spirit.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.