BALANCE-REEF. A reef-band that crosses a sail from the outer head-earing to the tack diagonally, making it nearly triangular, and is used to contract it in very blowing weather. (2) A balance reef-band is generally placed in all gaff-sails; the band runs from the throat to the clew, so that it may be reefed either way—by lacing the foot or lower half; or by lacing the gaff drooped to the band: the latter is only done in the worst weather.—This is a point on which seamen may select—but the old plan, as first given, affords more power; (2) is applicable to the severest weather.
BALANCING-POINT. A familiar term for centre of gravity. (See [Gravity].)
BALANDRA. A Spanish pleasure-boat. A lighter, a species of schooner.
BALANUS. The acorn-shell. A sessile cirriped.
BALCAR. See [Balkar].
BALCONY. The projecting open galleries of old line-of-battle ships' sterns, now disused. They were convenient and ornamental in hot climates, but were afterwards inclosed within sash windows.
BALDRICK. A leathern girdle or sword-belt. Also the zodiac.
BALE. A pack. This word appears in the statute Richard II. c. 3, and is still in common use.
BALE, To. To lade water out of a ship or vessel with buckets (which were of old called bayles), cans, or the like, when the pumps are ineffective or choked.
BALEEN. The scientific term for the whalebone of commerce, derived from balæna, a whale. It consists of a series of long horny plates growing from each side of the palate in place of teeth.