mothball

[ mawth-bawl, moth- ]

noun

1. a small ball of naphthalene or sometimes of camphor for placing in closets or other storage areas to repel moths from clothing, blankets, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to put into storage or reserve; inactivate.

adjective

1. inactive; unused; stored away:

   a mothball fleet.

mothball

/ ˈmɒθˌbɔːl /

noun

1. Also calledcamphor ball a small ball of camphor or naphthalene used to repel clothes moths in stored clothing, blankets, etc
2. put in mothballs
   to postpone work on (a project, activity, etc)

verb

1. to prepare (a ship, aircraft, etc) for a long period of storage by sealing all openings with plastic to prevent corrosion
2. to take (a factory, plant, etc) out of operation but maintain it so that it can be used in the future
3. to postpone work on (a project, activity, etc)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mothball¹

First recorded in 1905–10; moth + ball ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in mothballs,
   1. in disuse or in storage, especially with reference to standby equipment.
   2. (of ideas) dismissed as unworthy of further deliberation.

Example Sentences

Experienced charity professional Mr Gilbert was appointed to take over as chief executive from Mrs Ingram-Moore and ran the charity for five months before it was mothballed due to the charity commission investigation.

From BBC

A huge newly-constructed ship is to be mothballed in Edinburgh as result of a "ferries fiasco" on the other side of the world.

From BBC

This year, Sable Offshore Corp., a Houston-based energy company, purchased the mothballed equipment and announced plans to restart oil extraction by the end of the year — including the failed pipeline.

From Los Angeles Times

It has also proposed to mothball Blackwood Miners' Institute.

From BBC

It’s not clear if that’s going to happen and work nearby has been mothballed for two years.

From BBC

Related Words

• conserve
• defend
• freeze
• keep
• perpetuate
• protect
• retain
• safeguard
• save
• secure
• store
• sustain
• uphold