Puffball
/ˈpʌfˌbɔːl/noun
A round fungus that releases a cloud of spores when mature, or a soft, round object resembling one.
Did you know?Puffball is a straightforward compound of puff + ball, and the “puff” part comes from the idea of a sudden breath or blast—perfect for a fungus that detonates into spores when touched.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
pyffan
“to puff, blow, or breathe out”
Middle English
ME
puffe
“a breath, blast, or sudden puff of air”
Middle English
ME
balle
“a round object or sphere”
16th Century
English
puff-balle
“a round fungus that releases a cloud of dust-like spores”
Modern English
English
puffball
“a round fungus, especially one that emits spores in a puff when ripe”