Ballast word meaning and definition

[noun] any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
[verb] make steady with a 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.
\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.

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