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ballast

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ballast


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ballast  \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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ballast 
  n  :  used  to  stabilize  a  ship  or  airship 
  v  :  make  steady  with  a  ballast 




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