† ˈpumping-ball Obs.
[History obscure.
As obs. F. pompette was synonymous with pompon, it seems possible that pumping-ball was corrupted from *pompon-ball = pumpet-ball.]
= pumpet-ball; also called by Florio pump-ball.
| 1598 Florio, Tudice, a printers inke bals, called pumping bals, wherewith they beat the letters in the forme lying vpon the presse. [1611 a Printers inke-balles or pump-balles.] |
So † ˈpumping-nail, a nail used in fastening the leather on a printer's ink-ball, or ‘pumping-ball’ to the stock.
| 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xi. vi. ¶21 For Pelts or Leather, Ball-Nails or Pumping-Nails, Wool or Hair..the Press-man generally eases the Master-Printer of the trouble of choosing. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 301/1 Pumping Nails, with round Heads. [Cf. 1888 Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 6 Ball nails, tacks or clouts used for fastening on the coverings of the old ink-balls.] |