Ballast

[A.S. bat, a boat, and hlæst, a burden; Dut. ballast.) (Mar.) The load of stones, sand, or other heavy substance, which a ship carries when without cargo; dead-weight laid in the hold of a ship to keep her steady or in equipoise in the water. Broken stones or rubbish, gravel, ., used in constructing a railroad to make solid the permanent way. - Metaphorically, that which is used to make anything steady. -v. a. To load a ve el with ballast. - To make or keep anything steady; as, to ballast the bed of a railway. "Now you have given me virtue for my guide, And with true honour ballasted my pride."-Dryden.