A highball is an alcoholic drink consisting of liquor such as whiskey or brandy mixed with soda water or gingerale and served with ice in a tall glass.
[US]
...a bourbon highball.
highball in British English
(ˈhaɪˌbɔːl) mainly US
noun
1.
a long iced drink consisting of a spirit base with water, soda water, etc
2.
(originally in railway use) a signal that the way ahead is clear and one may proceed
verb
3. (intransitive)
to move at great speed
4. (transitive)
to drive (a vehicle) at great speed
Word origin
C19: (in sense 2) from the early railway signal consisting of a ball hoisted to thetop of a pole
highball in American English
(ˈhaɪˌbɔl)
US
noun
1.
liquor, usually whiskey or brandy, mixed with water, soda water, ginger ale, etc. and served with ice in a tall glass
2.
a railroad signal, originally a ball hung above the tracks, meaning “go ahead”
sometimes used figuratively
verb intransitive
3. Slang
to proceed at great speed
Word origin
(sense 1) < ? high + ball, bartender's slang for “whiskey glass”: infl. ? by the v.
Examples of 'highball' in a sentence
highball
Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass filled with ice cubes.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Pour all the ingredients into a highball glass filled with ice and stir gently.