ball off

English

Verb

ball off (third-person singular simple present balls off, present participle balling off, simple past and past participle balled off)

1. (slang, dated) To depart, especially quickly; to hurry away; to leave at a particular speed.

   The ship balled off at 12 knots.

2. (archaic, nautical) To spin rope-yarns into balls, in preparation for making spun yarn.