BALLARAG
Bal"la*rag, v. i. Etym: [Corrupted fr. bullirag.]
Defn: To bully; to threaten. [Low] T. Warton.
BALLAST Bal"last, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
BALLAST
Bal"last, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ballasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ballasting.]