A small West African python, Python regius, which curls into a tight ball with the head hidden when alarmed, and is popular as a pet in North America; also called royal python.
Origin
1920s.
Definition of ball python in US English:
ball python
noun
A small West African python, Python regius, which curls into a tight ball with the head hidden when alarmed, and is popular as a pet in North America; also called royal python.