Ballast
/ˈbæl.əst/noun
Heavy material placed in a ship or vehicle to improve stability, or something that steadies or supports.
Did you know?The exact origin of *ballast* is uncertain, but it likely came through Scandinavian or Low German seafaring speech, where the idea was simply the cargo of stones or sand needed to keep a ship upright—proof that sometimes the most powerful force is invisible weight.
Etymological Timeline
Middle Dutch / Low German
Germanic
ballast
“Ship’s stones, sand, or other heavy material used to steady an empty vessel”
15th Century
English
ballast
“Weight placed in a ship to keep it stable”
16th Century
English
ballast
“Anything that gives stability or support, especially in a figurative sense”
Modern English
English
ballast
“A stabilizing weight or influence”