balloon
n. countablen. a small bag made of thin rubber that you fill with air or gas. You often see them at parties or used as toys for children.
n. a flexible, non-porous bag inflated with a gas, such as helium or air. Often used for decorative purposes or as a light aircraft in the form of a hot-air balloon.
The children played with a red balloon at the party.
We tied several colorful balloons to the gate so the guests could find the house easily.
The scientist monitored the weather balloon as it ascended into the stratosphere to collect atmospheric data for the upcoming climate report.
First use appears c. 1591, "a game played with a large, inflated leather ball" (possibly via Middle French ballon) from Italian pallone (“large ball”) from palla (“ball”), from Lombardic palla. The Northern Italian form, balla (“ball-shaped bundle”), today a doublet, likely derived from Old French balle, from Frankish balla (“ball”), and may have influenced the spelling of this word. Both Germanic words are from Proto-Germanic ballô (“ball”), balluz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰoln- (“bubble”), from Proto-Indo-European bʰel- (“to blow, swell, inflate”). Akin to Old High German ballo, bal (“ball”), (German Ballen (“bale”); Ball "ball"). Doublet of ballon. More at ball.