# Another name for a disco ball? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 16, 2000, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867 "2000-12-16T05:22:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/1 "2000-12-16T05:22:07Z")
My mom sent me this IM today: _for a month I have been blocked on the word for that mirrored ball that was called a disco ball in the 70’s (but the real name comes from the 20s)–do you happen to know?_ I figured this was where to turn. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/2 "2000-12-16T05:26:18Z")
The name I’m familiar with is “Mirror Ball” - but I doubt that’s what you’re looking for, considering your mother’s message. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/3 "2000-12-16T05:31:48Z")
I’m a’lookin’ but, according to [this](http://www.nationalproducts.com/disco.htm), their just called “disco balls”… ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/4 "2000-12-16T05:35:21Z")
Or [mirror balls](http://www.fortuneproducts.com/mb.html) ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/5 "2000-12-16T05:37:40Z")
Damn homophones!!! **they’re**!! ---
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/6 "2000-12-16T05:40:19Z")
The way I read that linked page, the generic term is “mirror balls”. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/7 "2000-12-16T05:40:30Z")
Followup from my mom: _it’s driving me nuts; I asked John tonight, and he is also blocked and says it will be bothering him, too it kills me because it’s a word I know very well_ ---
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/8 "2000-12-16T05:42:07Z")
Sorry, you’re right, they’re “homophones” ---
**Author:** ![scratch1300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@scratch1300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch1300)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/9 "2000-12-16T14:21:50Z")
The ancient Romans used a mirrored ball called the _orbis Terpsichoreum_ which was used during Saturnalia. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/10 "2000-12-16T14:49:56Z")
Also called glitterballs. ---
**Author:** ![Turley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Turley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turley)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/11 "2000-12-17T05:41:37Z")
\*\*sub         [/sub]O         º       sub[/sub]         +         A         " \*\* ---
**Author:** ![greeny2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@greeny2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greeny2)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/12 "2000-12-17T06:03:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \* > > \*\*Also called glitterballs. \*\* This rings a bell with me. That’s probably the term. I wonder if they are mentioned in that movie about old dance contests. **They Shoot Horses, Don’t They** with Jane Fonda (Unfortunately, that movie is too depressing to recommend unless there’s money riding on this, I’m afraid.) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-name-for-a-disco-ball/45867/13 "2000-12-17T22:24:43Z")
My mom says that isn’t the word. Also, for sure it’s an English word.