What does 8 ball mean? An 8 ball is one eighth of an ounce of a drug (usually cocaine). It can also refer to a mix of crack-cocaine and heroin as well as the malt-liquor brand Olde English 800. Sometimes, it can act as a derogatory term for a black person. Translations: Dragon Force II Full English. Dragon Force II Full English Translation Released (Read 11621 times. I dropped the ball in not realizing that the user's disc drive and ripping software can. Smoking freebase or crack cocaine is most often accomplished using a pipe made from a small glass tube. And if it does so much for outward ailments. Crack cocaine, which became popular in the 1980s, looks like a small rock, chunk, or chip and it's sometimes off-white or pink in color. While it's the same drug as cocaine with virtually the same effects, it can be smoked, which gives the user an immediate high.
Words We're WatchingAn 8 ball (also commonly called eight ball) is approximately an eighth of an ounce (ranging from 3 to 3.5 grams) of an illegal drug, most often cocaine.
The term appears to have originated in the mid-1980s, at least in print, and, as the citations below indicate, the going rate for such an item at that time ranged from $300 to $350.
Cuthbert allegedly sold 'an eight ball of cocaine' to an undercover agent for $350.
— The Post-Cresent (Appleton, WI), 22 Apr. 1985
Banerdt is accused of selling an '8 ball' of cocaine to an undercover officer for $320 on Jan. 11 and again on Feb. 1, according to court records.
— Green Bay Press-Gazette (Green Bay,WI), 18 Jun. 1985
On Oct. 8 a Drug Suppression Team agent purchased an 'eight ball' of cocaine — or about four grams — for $300.
— Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, GA), 4 Nov. 1986
The suspect demanded an 'eight ball' of heroin, money, and the keys to a truck, said Henry, who doesn't own a truck.
— Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), 18 May 1993
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Merriam-Webster unabridgedThe standard in this section for retail cocaine prices is a gram of cocaine. Low level drug dealers will typically deal in gram quantities. It is common to find low level drug dealers that will sell a half of gram of cocaine or a half of cocaine at such places as nightclubs and bars. Usually the cocaine at places like this will be packaged in very small ziploc bags Low level drug dealers that sell at the retail cocaine price level will also generally sell '8 balls', which is 3.5 grams of cocaine. Almost always the cocaine at this level will not be of high purity. It will almost certainly have added cutting agents such as inositol powder. This section also includes prices for an '8 ball' of cocaine because this is a very commonly purchased quantity of cocaine. The word '8 ball' comes from the fact that 3.5 grams is about an eighth of an ounce (28.3 grams). The below listed prices are estimates and many times low level drug dealers will not be accurate on the weight of the cocaine that they sell. It is very common to find lower level dealers that 'short' their customers. Crack cocaine prices vary slightly. If you are involved in law enforcement and would like to submit the going prices for your area, please email us at info@narcoticnews.com. Price per gram.
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