heelball

[ heel-bawl ]

noun

1. a substance composed of lampblack and wax used for making rubbings or for polishing shoes.

heelball

/ ˈhiːlˌbɔːl /

noun

1. 1. a black waxy substance used by shoemakers to blacken the edges of heels and soles
   2. a similar substance used to take rubbings, esp brass rubbings

Word History and Origins

Origin of heelball¹

1790–1800; heel ¹ + ball ¹, originally the ball or undersurface of the heel