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Definitions for: Ballast
[n] any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
[v] make steady with a ballast
Webster (1913) Definition: Bal"last, n. [D. ballast; akin to Dan. baglast,
ballast, OSw. barlast, Sw. ballast. The first part is perh.
the same word as E. bare, adj.; the second is last a burden,
and hence the meaning a bare, or mere, load. See Bare, a.,
and Last load.]
1. (Naut.) Any heavy substance, as stone, iron, etc., put
into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a
depth as to prevent capsizing.
2. Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it
steadiness.
3. Gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad
to make it firm and solid.
4. The larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in
making concrete.
5. Fig.: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness,
steadiness, and security.
It [piety] is the right ballast of prosperity.
--Barrow.
Ballast engine, a steam engine used in excavating and for
digging and raising stones and gravel for ballast.
Ship in ballast, a ship carring only ballast.
Bal"last, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ballasted; p. pr. &
vb. n. Ballasting.]
1. To steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the
hold.
2. To fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone,
etc., in order to make it firm and solid.
3. To keep steady; to steady, morally.
'T is charity must ballast the heart. --Hammond.
See Also: brace, matter, stabilise, stabilize, steady, substance
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