Here is another example of how words take on additional
resonances while drawing on the central meaning of their origin. Notice the
history in ‘ballast’ which is both a noun and a verb.
As a noun, this word refers to the dense, heavy material
that stabilises a ship or similar seafaring vessel which is not carrying its cargo
or a full load.
It is thought to have arisen from Old German (16 Century)
via Old Danish or Old Swedish from bar (bare, mere) + last
(load)
The word is used in building contexts where the crushed rock
is used to stabilise road or rail foundations.
More recently, it is used in electronics as the name for the
device that maintains current flow in a circuit.
It can be used as a verb where to
ballast means to stabilise or give weight to an object.
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