Bale - Ballot

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Bale (bāl), n. [AS. bealo, bealu, balu; akin to OS. balu, OHG. balo, Icel. böl, Goth. balweins.] 1. Misery; calamity; misfortune; sorrow.
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Let now your bliss be turned into bale. Spenser.
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2. Evil; an evil, pernicious influence; something causing great injury. [Now chiefly poetic]
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Balearic (băl�ărĭk), a. [L. Balearicus, fr. Gr. baliarei^s the Balearic Islands.] Of or pertaining to the isles of Majorca, Minorca, Ivica, etc., in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Valencia.
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Coloq. Balearic crane . (Zoöl.) See .
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Baleen (bȧlēn), n. [F. baleine whale and whalebone, L. balaena a whale; cf. Gr. falaina. ] (Zoöl. & Com.) Plates or blades of “whalebone,” from two to twelve feet long, and sometimes a foot wide, which in certain whales (Balænoidea) are attached side by side along the upper jaw, and form a fringelike sieve by which the food is retained in the mouth.
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Balefire (bālfīr), n. [AS. bǣlfȳr the fire of the funeral pile; bǣl fire, flame (akin to Icel. bāl, OSlav. bēlŭ, white, Gr. falos bright, white, Skr. bhāla brightness) + fȳr, E. fire.] A signal fire; an alarm fire.
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Sweet Teviot! on thy silver tide
The glaring balefires blaze no more. Sir W. Scott.
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Baleful (bālfụl), a. [AS. bealoful. See misery.] 1. Full of deadly or pernicious influence; destructive. “Baleful enemies.” Shak.
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Four infernal rivers that disgorge
Into the burning lake their baleful streams. Milton.
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2. Full of grief or sorrow; woeful; sad. [Archaic]
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Balefully, adv. In a baleful manner; perniciously.
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Balefulness, n. The quality or state of being baleful.
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Balisaur (bălĭsä�r), n. [Hind.] (Zoöl.) A badgerlike animal of India (Arctonyx collaris).
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Balister (bălĭstẽr or bȧlĭstẽr), n. [OF. balestre. See .] A crossbow. [Obs.] Blount.
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Balistidae n. 1. a natural family comprising the triggerfishes.
Syn. -- family Balistidae.
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Balistoid (�), a. (Zoöl.) Like a fish of the genus Balistes; of the family Balistidæ. See .
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Balistraria (�), n. [LL.] (Anc. Fort.) A narrow opening, often cruciform, through which arrows might be discharged. Parker.
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Balize (�), n. [F. balise; cf. Sp. balisa.] A pole or a frame raised as a sea beacon or a landmark.
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Balk (b�k), n. [AS. balca beam, ridge; akin to Icel. bālkr partition, bjālki beam, OS. balko, G. balken; cf. Gael. balc ridge of earth between two furrows. Cf. , , v. t., 3d .] 1. A ridge of land left unplowed between furrows, or at the end of a field; a piece missed by the plow slipping aside.
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Bad plowmen made balks of such ground. Fuller.
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2. A great beam, rafter, or timber; esp., the tie-beam of a house. The loft above was called “the balks.”
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Tubs hanging in the balks. Chaucer.
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3. (Mil.) One of the beams connecting the successive supports of a trestle bridge or bateau bridge.
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4. A hindrance or disappointment; a check.
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A balk to the confidence of the bold undertaker. South.
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5. A sudden and obstinate stop; a failure.
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6. (Baseball) A deceptive gesture of the pitcher, as if to deliver the ball. It is illegal and is penalized by allowing the runners on base to advance one base.
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Coloq. Balk line (Billiards), a line across a billiard table near one end, marking a limit within which the cue balls are placed in beginning a game; also, a line around the table, parallel to the sides, used in playing a particular game, called the balk line game.
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Balk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Balked (b�kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Balking.] [From a beam; orig. to put a balk or beam in one's way, in order to stop or hinder. Cf., for sense 2, AS. on balcan legan to lay in heaps.]
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1. To leave or make balks in. [Obs.] Gower.
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2. To leave heaped up; to heap up in piles. [Obs.]
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Ten thousand bold Scots, two and twenty knights,
Balk'd in their own blood did Sir Walter see. Shak.
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3. To omit, miss, or overlook by chance. [Obs.]
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4. To miss intentionally; to avoid; to shun; to refuse; to let go by; to shirk. [Obs. or Obsolescent]
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By reason of the contagion then in London, we balked the inns. Evelyn.
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Sick he is, and keeps his bed, and balks his meat. Bp. Hall.
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Nor doth he any creature balk,
But lays on all he meeteth. Drayton.
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5. To disappoint; to frustrate; to foil; to baffle; to thwart; as, to balk expectation.
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They shall not balk my entrance. Byron.
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Balk, v. i. 1. To engage in contradiction; to be in opposition. [Obs.]
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In strifeful terms with him to balk. Spenser.
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2. To stop abruptly and stand still obstinately; to jib; to stop short; to swerve; as, the horse balks.
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☞ This has been regarded as an Americanism, but it occurs in Spenser's “Faërie Queene,” Book IV., 10, xxv.
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Ne ever ought but of their true loves talkt,
Ne ever for rebuke or blame of any balkt.
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3. (Baseball) to commit a balk{6}; -- of a pitcher.
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Balk, v. i. [Prob. from D. balken to bray, bawl.] To indicate to fishermen, by shouts or signals from shore, the direction taken by the shoals of herring.
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balkanize v. 1. to divide a territory into small, hostile states.
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Balkans prop. n. pl. 1. The countries occupying the Balkan Peninsula.
Syn. -- Balkan countries, Balkan nations, Balkan states.
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2. The Balkan mountains.
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balked adj. 1. Same as .
Syn. -- baffled, discomfited, discouraged, frustrated.
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Balker (�), n. [See 2d .] One who, or that which, balks.
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Balker (�), n. [See last .] A person who stands on a rock or eminence to espy the shoals of herring, etc., and to give notice to the men in boats which way they pass; a conder; a huer.
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balkiness n. 1. likely to stop abruptly and unexpectedly.
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balkline n. 1. line across a billiard table behind which the cue balls are placed at the start of a game.
Syn. -- baulk line, string line.
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Balkingly, adv. In a manner to balk or frustrate.
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Balkish, a. Uneven; ridgy. [R.] Holinshed.
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Balky (b�k�), a. Apt to balk; as, a balky horse.
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Ball (b�l), n. [OE. bal, balle; akin to OHG. balla, palla, G. ball, Icel. böllr, ball; cf. F. balle. Cf. 1st , n., .] 1. Any round or roundish body or mass; a sphere or globe; as, a ball of twine; a ball of snow.
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2. A spherical body of any substance or size used to play with, as by throwing, knocking, kicking, etc.
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3. A general name for games in which a ball is thrown, kicked, or knocked. See , and .
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4. Any solid spherical, cylindrical, or conical projectile of lead or iron, to be discharged from a firearm; as, a cannon ball; a rifle ball; -- often used collectively; as, powder and ball. Spherical balls for the smaller firearms are commonly called bullets.
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5. (Pyrotechnics & Mil.) A flaming, roundish body shot into the air; a case filled with combustibles intended to burst and give light or set fire, or to produce smoke or stench; as, a fire ball; a stink ball.
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6. (Print.) A leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle called a ballstock; -- formerly used by printers for inking the form, but now superseded by the roller.
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7. A roundish protuberant portion of some part of the body; as, the ball of the thumb; the ball of the foot.
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8. (Far.) A large pill, a form in which medicine is commonly given to horses; a bolus. White.
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9. The globe or earth. Pope.
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Move round the dark terrestrial ball. Addison.
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10. (Baseball) A pitched ball, not struck at by the batter, which fails to pass over the home plate at a height not greater than the batter's shoulder nor less than his knee (i.e. it is outside the strike zone). If the pitcher pitches four balls before three strikes are called, the batter advances to first base, and the action of pitching four balls is called a walk.
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10. a testicle; usually used in the plural. [vulgar]
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11. pl. courage; nerve. [vulgar]
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Coloq. Ball and socket joint , a joint in which a ball moves within a socket, so as to admit of motion in every direction within certain limits. -- Coloq. Ball bearings , a mechanical device for lessening the friction of axle bearings by means of small loose metal balls. -- Coloq. Ball cartridge , a cartridge containing a ball, as distinguished from a blank cartridge, containing only powder. -- Coloq. Ball cock , a faucet or valve which is opened or closed by the fall or rise of a ball floating in water at the end of a lever. -- Coloq. Ball gudgeon , a pivot of a spherical form, which permits lateral deflection of the arbor or shaft, while retaining the pivot in its socket. Knight. -- Coloq. Ball lever , the lever used in a ball cock. -- Coloq. Ball of the eye , the eye itself, as distinguished from its lids and socket; -- formerly, the pupil of the eye. -- Coloq. Ball valve (Mach.), a contrivance by which a ball, placed in a circular cup with a hole in its bottom, operates as a valve. -- Coloq. Ball vein (Mining), a sort of iron ore, found in loose masses of a globular form, containing sparkling particles. -- Coloq. Three balls , or Coloq. Three golden balls , a pawnbroker's sign or shop. -- Coloq. on the ball alert; competent and knowledgeable. -- Coloq. to carry the ball to carry on the task; to assume the responsibility. -- Coloq. to drop the ball to fail to perform as expected; to fail to live up to a responsibility.
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Syn. -- See .
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Ball, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Balled (b�ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Balling.] To gather balls which cling to the feet, as of damp snow or clay; to gather into balls; as, the horse balls; the snow balls.
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Ball, v. t. 1. (Metal.) To heat in a furnace and form into balls for rolling.
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2. To form or wind into a ball; as, to ball cotton.
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Ball, n. [F. bal, fr. OF. baler to dance, fr. LL. ballare. Of uncertain origin; cf. Gr. ballein to toss or throw, or pallein, pallesqai, to leap, bound, ballizein to dance, jump about; or cf. 1st , n.] 1. A social assembly for the purpose of dancing; -- usually applied to an occasion lavish or formal.
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2. A very enjoyable time; as, we had a ball at the wedding.
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Ballad (�), n. [OE. balade, OF. balade, F. ballade, fr. Pr. ballada a dancing song, fr. ballare to dance; cf. It. ballata. See 2d , n., and .] A popular kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing; as, the ballad of Chevy Chase; esp., a sentimental or romantic poem in short stanzas.
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Ballad, v. i. To make or sing ballads. [Obs.]
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Ballad, v. t. To make mention of in ballads. [Obs.]
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Ballade (�), n. [See , n.] A form of French versification, sometimes imitated in English, in which three or four rhymes recur through three stanzas of eight or ten lines each, the stanzas concluding with a refrain, and the whole poem with an envoy.
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Ballader (�), n. A writer of ballads.
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Ballad monger (�). [See .] A seller or maker of ballads; a poetaster. Shak.
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Balladry (�), n. [From , n.] Ballad poems; the subject or style of ballads. “Base balladry is so beloved.” Drayton.
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{ Ballahoo, Ballahou } (băllȧh�), n. A fast-sailing schooner, used in the Bermudas and West Indies.
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Ballarag (băllȧrăg), v. t. [Corrupted fr. bullirag.] To bully; to threaten. [Low] T. Warton.
Syn. -- bullirag; bullyrag. [ Webster]

Ballast (băll�st), 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 , a., and 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.
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2. Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness.
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3. Gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make it firm and solid.
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4. The larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making concrete.
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5. Fig.: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.
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It [piety] is the right ballast of prosperity. Barrow.
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Coloq. Ballast engine , a steam engine used in excavating and for digging and raising stones and gravel for ballast. -- Coloq. Ship in ballast , a ship carrying only ballast.
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Ballast, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ballasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ballasting.] 1. To steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold.
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2. To fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone, etc., in order to make it firm and solid.
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3. To keep steady; to steady, morally.
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'T is charity must ballast the heart. Hammond.
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Ballastage (�), n. (Law) A toll paid for the privilege of taking up ballast in a port or harbor.
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Ballasting, n. That which is used for steadying anything; ballast.
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Ballatry (�), n. See . [Obs.] Milton.
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balled adj. prenom. formed or gathered into a ball. balled cotton
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ballerina n. A female ballet dancer.
Syn. -- danseuse.
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Ballet (băll� or băllĕt; 277), n. [F., a dim. of bal dance. See 2d , n.] 1. An artistic dance performed as a theatrical entertainment, or an interlude, by a number of persons, usually women. Sometimes, a scene accompanied by pantomime and dancing.
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2. The company of persons who perform the ballet.
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3. (Mus.) A light part song, or madrigal, with a fa la burden or chorus, -- most common with the Elizabethan madrigal composers; -- also spelled ballett.
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4. (Her.) A bearing in coats of arms, representing one or more balls, which are denominated bezants, plates, etc., according to color.
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balletic adj. of or pertaining to ballet{1}.
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ballet master (�), n. a man who trains ballet dancers.
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ballet mistress (�), n. a woman who trains ballet dancers.
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balletomane n. a ballet enthusiast.
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ballet slipper n. a heelless slipper specifically designed to be worn by ballet dancers while dancing.
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Ball-flower (�), n. (Arch.) An ornament resembling a ball placed in a circular flower, the petals of which form a cup round it, -- usually inserted in a hollow molding.
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ball-hawking adj. (Baseball or basketball or football) skilled in stealing the ball or robbing a batter of a hit; -- used of a Baseball or basketball or football player. a ball-hawking center fielder
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Ballista (�), n.; pl. Ballistæ (�). [L. ballista, balista, fr. Gr. ballein to throw.] An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.
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Ballister (băllĭstẽr or băllĭstẽr), n. [L. ballista. Cf. .] A crossbow. [Obs.]
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Ballistic (�), a. 1. Of or pertaining to the ballista, or to the art of hurling stones or missile weapons by means of an engine.
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2. Pertaining to ballistics{2}, or to a projectile in a gravitational field.
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3. frenzied; very angry; -- used mostly in the phrase Coloq. go ballistic . [Colloq.]
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Coloq. Ballistic pendulum , an instrument consisting of a mass of wood or other material suspended as a pendulum, for measuring the force and velocity of projectiles by means of the arc through which their impact impels it.
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ballistic missile (�), n. A rocket-propelled missile of long range which is guided only during the powered portion of its flight, which usually takes only a small part of the total flight time; -- contrasted with guided missile. Ballistic missiles are sometimes referred to by their range, such as an Coloq. intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or an Coloq. intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM).
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Ballistics (�), n. [Cf. F. balistique. See .] The science or art of hurling missile weapons by the use of an engine. Whewell.
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2. The science treating the motion of projectiles in flight, especially when they are in free fall within the earth's gravitational field.
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3. The study of the characteristics of a cartridge fired from a firearm, and of the processes occurring during the discharge of a firearm.
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4. The division within a police department which studies the characteristics of cartridges fired from a firearm; the ballistics department. The characteristics of the weapons and bullets fired may be used as evidence in criminal investigations.
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Ballistite (?), n. [See .] (Chem.) A smokeless powder containing equal parts of soluble nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin.
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Ballium (�), n. [LL.] See .
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Balloon (�), n. [F. ballon, aug. of balle ball: cf. It. ballone. See 1st , n., and cf. .] 1. A bag made of silk or other light material, and filled with hydrogen gas or heated air, so as to rise and float in the atmosphere; especially, one with a car attached for aërial navigation.
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2. (Arch.) A ball or globe on the top of a pillar, church, etc., as at St. Paul's, in London. [R.]
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3. (Chem.) A round vessel, usually with a short neck, to hold or receive whatever is distilled; a glass vessel of a spherical form.
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4. (Pyrotechnics) A bomb or shell. [Obs.]
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5. A game played with a large inflated ball. [Obs.]
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6. (Engraving) The outline inclosing words represented as coming from the mouth of a pictured figure.
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Coloq. Air balloon , a balloon for aërial navigation. -- Coloq. Balloon frame (Carp.), a house frame constructed altogether of small timber. -- Coloq. Balloon net , a variety of woven lace in which the weft threads are twisted in a peculiar manner around the warp.
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Balloon, v. t. To take up in, or as if in, a balloon.
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Balloon, v. i. 1. To go up or voyage in a balloon.
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2. To expand, or puff out, like a balloon.
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Ballooned (�), a. Swelled out like a balloon.
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Ballooner (�), n. One who goes up in a balloon; an aëronaut.
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balloonfish, balloon fish (�). (Zoöl.) A fish of the genus Diodon (such as Diodon holocanthus) or the genus Tetraodon, having the power of distending its body by taking air or water into its dilatable esophagus. It is similar to but smaller than the porcupinefish. See , and .
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Ballooning, n. 1. The art or practice of managing balloons or voyaging in them; the sport of riding in balloons.
balloonry (archaic)
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2. (Stock Exchange) The process of temporarily raising the value of a stock, as by fictitious sales. [U.S.]
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Ballooning spider (�). (Zoöl.) A spider which has the habit of rising into the air. Many kinds (esp. species of Lycosa) do this while young by ejecting threads of silk until the force of the wind upon them carries the spider aloft.
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Balloonist, n. An aëronaut.
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Balloonry (�), n. The art or practice of ascending in a balloon; an older term for . [Archaic]
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Ballot (băllŭt), n. [F. ballotte, fr. It. ballotta. See round body.]
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1. Originally, a ball used for secret voting. Hence: Any printed or written ticket used in voting.
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2. The act of secret voting, whether by balls, written or printed ballots or tickets, or by use of a voting machine; the system of voting secretly.
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The insufficiency of the ballot. Dickens.
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