( often initial capital letter ) Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.a treeless mountaintop or area near the top: often used as part of a proper name.
Origin: 1250–1300;Middle Englishball(e)d, equivalent to ball white spot (compare Welshbal,Greekphaliós having a white spot) + -ed-ed3
c.1300, ballede, probably, with M.E. -ede adjectival suffix, from Celt. bal "white patch, blaze" especially on the head of a horse or other animal (from PIE base *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, gleam;" see bleach). Cf., from the same root, Skt. bhalam "brightness, forehead,"
Gk. phalos "white," L. fulcia "coot" (so called for the white patch on its head), Alb. bale "forehead." Bald eagle first attested 1680s.