Ballast
Ballast (bal"last) , noun
[Dutch ballast; akin to Danish baglast, ballast, OSw. barlast, Swedish ballast. The first part is perh. the same word as English bare, adj.; the second is last a burden, and hence the meaning a bare, or mere, load. See Bare, a., and Last load.]
1.
(Nautical) 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.
Figuratively: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.
It [piety] is the right ballast of prosperity.
Collocations (2)
Ballast engine , a steam engine used in excavating and for digging and raising stones and gravel for ballast.
Ship in ballast , a ship carrying only ballast.
Ballast , transitive verb
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.