Where did the word 'baller' come from?

[bastitch]

I can trace this to the Bay Area BEFORE 1994.

I'm sure it has roots well before this. I can remember saying "baller" in junior high, about 93ish. But if you needed any proof, this D-Shotcompilation dates when we were saying it in Vallejo.

 

[lazyj10]

Basically, weren't all the Vallejo heads throwing the term out there? Young lay and Ray Luv come to mind and like Bastich mentioned, D-Shot too.

 

[calibeebee]

it comes from the Jazz Era in america in the 20's. If you were a baller, you were a ladies man. That's all it meant back then. It's changed alittle now but basically the same.