ball drop
noun1
A world-famous tradition when a large, illuminated crystal ball descends a flagpole from midnight to mark the new year; most commonly associated with the New Year's Eve event in New York's Times Square; a ritual inspired by maritime time ball signals that began in 1907 and has evolved into a massive global event with music and sizable crowds.
- In 1907, New Yorkers saw their first “ball drop” celebration.2000, Lyndra Jones, Kids Around the World Celebrate! The Best Feasts and Festivals from Many Lands, page 28:
- Jeanie, the media expert, couldn’t help but notice that the ball drop was different this year. She could tell from the camera angles that the crowd was much, much smaller than in the past.2014 March 24, Glen Tate, 299 Days: The War Book 299:
1 more example
- For the first 87 years of the ball drop, the spectacle was run entirely by hand. Now, it’s an electronic process and an atomic clock in Colorado controls the countdown.2025, “How Do They Build the New Year’s Ball Drop”, in J-Tech, archived from the original on 18 Jun 2025: