kissing ball

Definitions

A hanging ornament, often used as a Christmas decoration, made by arranging plant parts, especially sprigs of holly or mistletoe, and evergreen leaves, into a ball shape.

Examples

“The Division Office employees and their families enjoyed a Christmas party at the Highway Patrol clubhouse […] Clara Moran and Jackie Russ were responsible for the decorations—a tree and "kissing ball" of mistletoe …”

“Kissing balls using fresh or dried herbs, flowers, cones, berries, or fresh greens make⟳ wonderful holiday decorations.”

“And, most certainly we are careful to add⟳ the requisite bunch of mistletoe – often including a sprig in a kissing ball suspended in the front entryway. Of course, we always make⟳ certain there are plenty of berries on the mistletoe. Each kiss captured beneath the kissing ball necessitates the removal of one of the berries in keeping with the traditional rhyme: / Pluck a berry from the mistletoe / For every kiss that's given. / When the berries are all picked / It brings an end⟳ to kissing.”

“Dave and Nicole exchanged vows and rings beneath an iron⟳ canopy topped and sided in ivory organza, complete⟳ with a "kissing ball" bouquet of black roses (matching Nicole's bouquet) hanging from a chain of orchid blossoms.”

CEFR level