Oddball
/ˈɒd.bɔːl/noun
A person or thing that is unconventional or eccentric.
Did you know?The term 'oddball' originated in the mid-20th century from the game of dice, where an 'odd ball' referred to an unusual throw or result, hinting at the unpredictability of life.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
odde
“strange, unusual, or different.”
Middle English
Middle English
odde
“strange, peculiar, or uncommonly different.”
Early 20th Century
English
ball
“a round object used in games, symbolizing playfulness and chance.”
1940s
English
oddball
“a term for an eccentric person, combining 'odd' with 'ball' to signify unpredictability.”