Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "alƙalamin ballpoint" kayan aiki ne na rubutu da ƙaramin ƙwallon ƙarfe a gefensa wanda ke jujjuya da rarraba tawada yayin da ake jan shi a saman wani rubutu. Tawada da aka yi amfani da shi a cikin alkalan wasan ƙwallon ƙafa yawanci tushen mai ne kuma yana bushewa da sauri, yana sa ya dace don amfanin yau da kullun. Alƙalan wasan ƙwallon ƙafa sun shahara saboda dacewa, araha, da sauƙin amfani.