I would hear my Mom and Dad talk about highballs when I was a kid and the word has always been curious and comical to me.

I have read that in the 1890's Ball was slang for a drink of whiskey and the High referred to the tall glass in which a mixture of whiskey and a carbonated beverage was served. I can't prove that ice was required when the drink was introduced but I can't imagine a highball was ever served warm.

Scotch and soda and screwdrivers are examples of Highballs and Lowballs (short glass) include the Old Fashion and the White and Black Russian.

As best I can tell, Ball was short for ball of fire. Ball, as a slang term, apparently didn't last long and I have found very few instances where the term is used.

The trains had several iceboxes and the dining car menus even had ice cream.

This may be more than you ever wanted to know about the subject but I figure if anybody would be interested, it might be you. :)