ballast, ballace

t. [From ballast, s. (q.v.). In A.S. behlæstan = to load a ship; Dan. baglaste; Dut. & Ger. ball as ten.] *A. Of the form ballace: To stuff. "Neither to ballace the belly of Bacchus." Reynold Scot: Dedication to.. to ... a Hop Garden (1578). (J. H. in Boucher .) B. Of the form ballast: 419 1. Lit .: To place stones, iron, or other heavy substances in the bottom of a ship or boat to diminish the risk of its being capsized. "If this be so ballasted as to be of equal weight with the like magnitude of water, it will be moveable." Bp . Wilkins . 2. Fig .: To counteract the action of anything too light by superadding something solid to it; to impart stability to anything liable to be overturned. "Whilst thus to ballast love I thought, And so more steddily t' have gone, I saw I had Love's pinnace overfraught." Donne IMG:content-1019.png:[blocks in formation]