An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Ballen
Ballen, masculine, ‘bale, pack,’ identical with Ball, which, as Middle High German alle and Old High German ballo show, was formerly a weak masculine; in connection with the difference of form arose a difference of meaning; original sense ‘round bundle of paper,’ then ‘a certain quantity of rolled or packed paper.’ English bale and Dutch baal are borrowed from French balle (also ballon), which was again obtained from German.