BALLAST. A certain portion of stone, pig-iron, gravel, water, or such like materials, deposited in a ship's hold when she either has no cargo or too little to bring her sufficiently low in the water. It is used to counter-balance the effect of the wind upon the masts, and give the ship a proper stability, that she may be enabled to carry sail without danger of overturning. The art of ballasting consists in placing the centre of gravity, so as neither to be too high nor too low, too far forward nor too far aft, and that the surface of the water may nearly rise to the extreme breadth amidships, and thus the ship will be enabled to carry a good sail, incline but little, and ply well to windward. A want of true knowledge in this department has led to putting too great a weight in ships' bottoms, which impedes their sailing and endangers their masts by excessive rolling, the consequence of bringing the centre of gravity too low. It should be trimmed with due regard to the capacity, gravity, and flooring, and to the nature of whatever is to be deposited thereon. (_See_ TRIM.)
BALLAST. As a verb, signifies to steady;--as a substantive, a comprehensive mind. A man is said to "lose his ballast" when his judgment fails him, or he becomes top-heavy from conceit.
BALLASTAGE. An old right of the Admiralty in all our royal rivers, of levying a rate for supplying ships with ballast.
BALLAST-BASKET. Usually made of osier, for the transport and measure of shingle-ballast. Supplied to the gunner for transport of loose ammunition.
BALLAST-LIGHTER A large flat-floored barge, for heaving up and carrying ballast.
BALLAST-MARK. The horizontal line described by the surface of the water on the body of a ship, when she is immersed with her usual weight of ballast on board.
BALLAST-MASTER. A person appointed to see the port-regulations in respect to ballast carried out.
BALLAST-PORTS. Square holes cut in the sides of merchantmen for taking in ballast. But should be securely barred and caulked in before proceeding to sea.
BALLAST-SHIFTING. When by heavy rolling the ballast shifts in the hold.
BALLAST-SHINGLE. Composed of coarse gravel.
BALLAST-SHOOTING. (_See_ SHOOTS.) In England, and indeed in most frequented ports, the throwing of ballast overboard is strictly prohibited and subject to fine.
BALLAST-SHOVEL. A peculiar square and spoon-pointed iron shovel.
BALLAST-TRIM. When a vessel has only ballast on board.
BALLATOON. A sort of long heavy luggage-vessel of upwards of a hundred tons, employed on the river between Moscow and the Caspian Sea.
BALL-CARTRIDGE. For small arms.
BALL-CLAY. Adhesive strong bottom, brought up by the flukes of the anchors in massy lumps.
BALLISTA. An ancient military engine, like an enormous cross-bow, for throwing stones, darts, and javelins against the enemy with rapidity and violence. Also, the name of the geometrical cross called Jacob's staff.
BALLISTER. A cross-bow man.
BALLISTIC PENDULUM. An instrument for determining the velocity of projectiles. The original pendulum was of very massive construction, the arc through which it receded when impinged on by the projectile, taking into account their respective weights, afforded, with considerable calculation, a measure of the velocity of impact. Latterly the electro-ballistic pendulum, which by means of electric currents is made to register with very great accuracy the time occupied by the projectile in passing over a measured space, has superseded it, as being more accurate, less cumbrous, and less laborious in its accompanying calculations.
BALLIUM. A plot of ground in ancient fortifications: called also _baiky_.
BALLOCH. Gaelic for the discharge of a river into a lake.
BALLOEN. A Siamese decorated state-galley, imitating a sea-monster, with from seventy to a hundred oars of a side.
BALL-OFF, TO. To twist rope-yarns into balls, with a running end in the heart for making spun-yarn.
BALLOON-FISH (_Tetraodon_). A plectognathous fish, covered with spines, which has the power of inflating its body till it becomes almost globular.
BALLOW. Deep water inside a shoal or bar.
BALL-STELL. The geometrical instrument named _della stella_.
BALLY. A Teutonic word for inclosure, now prefixed to many sea-ports in Ireland, as Bally-castle, Bally-haven, Bally-shannon, and Bally-water.
BALSA, OR BALZA. A South American tree, very porous, which grows to an immense height in a few years, and is almost as light as cork. Hence the balsa-wood is used for the surf-boat called _balsa_. (_See_ JANGADA.)
BALTHEUS ORIONIS. The three bright stars constituting Orion's Belt.
BALUSTERS. The ornamental pillars or pilasters of the balcony or galleries in the sterns of ships, dividing the ward-room deck from the one above.
BAMBA. A commercial shell of value on the Gold Coast of Africa and below it.
BAMBO. An East Indian measure of five English pints.
BAMBOO (_Bambusa arundinacea_). A magnificent articulated cane, which holds a conspicuous rank in the tropics from its rapid growth and almost universal properties:--the succulent buds are eaten fresh and the young stems make excellent preserves. The large stems are useful in agricultural and domestic implements; also in building both houses and ships; in making baskets, cages, hats, and furniture, besides sails, paper, and in various departments of the Indian _materia medica_.
BAMBOOZLE, TO. To decoy the enemy by hoisting false colours.
BANANA (_Musa paradisiaca_). A valuable species of plantain, the fruit of which is much used in tropical climates, both fresh and made into bread. Gerarde named it Adam's apple from a notion that it was the forbidden fruit of Eden; whilst others supposed it to be the grapes brought out of the Promised Land by the spies of Moses. The spikes of fruit often weigh forty pounds.
BANCO [Sp.] Seat for rowers.
BAND. The musicians of a band are called idlers in large ships. Also a small body of armed men or retainers, as the band of gentlemen pensioners; also an iron hoop round a gun-carriage, mast, &c.; also a slip of canvas stitched across a sail, to strengthen the parts most liable to pressure.--_Reef-bands_, rope-bands or robands; rudder-bands (which see).
BANDAGE. A fillet or swathe, of the utmost importance in surgery. Also, formerly, parcelling to ropes.
BANDALEERS, OR BANDOLEERS. A wide leathern belt for the carriage of small cases of wood, covered with leather, each containing a charge for a fire-lock; in use before the modern cartouche-boxes were introduced.
BANDECOOT. A large species of fierce rat in India, which infests the drains, &c.
BANDED-DRUM. _See_ GRUNTER.
BANDED-MAIL. A kind of armour which consisted of alternate rows of leather or cotton and single chain-mail.
BANDEROLD, OR BANDEROLE. A small streamer or banner, usually fixed on a pike: from _banderola_, Sp. diminutive of _bandera_, the flag or ensign.
BAND-FISH, OR RIBBON-FISHES. A popular name of the _Gymnetrus_ genus.
BANDLE. An Irish measure of two feet in length.
BANG. A mixture of opium, hemp-leaves, and tobacco, of an intoxicating quality, chewed and smoked by the Malays and other people in the East, who, being mostly prohibited the use of wine, double upon Mahomet by indulging in other intoxicating matter, as if the manner of doing it cleared off the crime of drunkenness. This horrid stuff gives the maddening excitement which makes a Malay run _amok_ (which see).--_To bang_ is colloquially used to express excelling or beating rivals. (_See_ SUFFOLK BANG.)
BANGE. Light fine rain.
BANGLES. The hoops of a spar. Also, the rings on the wrists and ankles of Oriental people, chiefly used by females.
BANIAN. A sailor's coloured frock-shirt.
BANIAN OR BANYAN DAYS. Those in which no flesh-meat is issued to the messes. It is obvious that they are a remnant of the maigre days of the Roman Catholics, who deem it a mortal sin to eat flesh on certain days. Stock-fish used to be served out, till it was found to promote scurvy. The term is derived from a religious sect in the East, who, believing in metempsychosis, eat of no creature endued with life.
BANIAN-TREE. _Ficus indica_ of India and Polynesia. The tendrils from high branches extend 60 to 80 feet, take root on reaching the ground, and form a cover over some acres. Religious rites from which women are excluded are there performed.
BANJO. The brass frame in which the screw-propeller of a steamer works, and is hung for hoisting the screw on deck. This frame fits between slides fixed on the inner and outer stern-posts; resting in large carriages firmly secured thereto. The banjo is essential to lifting the screw.--Also, the rude instrument used in negro concerts.
BANK. The right or left boundary of a river, in looking from its source towards the sea, and the immediate margin or border of a lake. Also, a thwart, _banco_, or bench, for the rowers in a galley. Also, a rising ground in the sea, differing from a shoal, because not rocky but composed of sand, mud, or gravel. Also, mural elevations constructed of clay, stones, or any materials at hand, to prevent inundations.
BANK, TO. Also, an old word meaning to sail along the margins or banks of river-ports: thus Shakspeare in "King John" makes Lewis the Dauphin demand--