BALL-AND-SOCKET. A clever adaptation to give astronomical or surveying instruments full play and motion every way by a brass ball fitted into a spherical cell, and usually carried by an endless screw. BALLARAG, TO. To abuse or bully. Thus Warton of the French king-- "You surely thought to _ballarag_ us With your fine squadron off Cape Lagos." BALLAST. A certain portion of stone, pig-iron, gravel, water, or such like materials, deposited in a ship's hold when she either has no cargo or too little to bring her sufficiently low in the water. It is used to counter-balance the effect of the wind upon the masts, and give the ship a proper stability, that she may be enabled to carry sail without danger of overturning. The art of ballasting consists in placing the centre of gravity, so as neither to be too high nor too low, too far forward nor too far aft, and that the surface of the water may nearly rise to the extreme breadth amidships, and thus the ship will be enabled to carry a good sail, incline but little, and ply well to windward. A want of true knowledge in this department has led to putting too great a weight in ships' bottoms, which impedes their sailing and endangers their masts by excessive rolling, the consequence of bringing the centre of gravity too low. It should be trimmed with due regard to the capacity, gravity, and flooring, and to the nature of whatever is to be deposited thereon. (_See_ TRIM.) BALLAST. As a verb, signifies to steady;--as a substantive, a comprehensive mind. A man is said to "lose his ballast" when his judgment fails him, or he becomes top-heavy from conceit. BALLASTAGE. An old right of the Admiralty in all our royal rivers, of levying a rate for supplying ships with ballast. BALLAST-BASKET. Usually made of osier, for the transport and measure of shingle-ballast. Supplied to the gunner for transport of loose ammunition. BALLAST-LIGHTER A large flat-floored barge, for heaving up and carrying ballast. BALLAST-MARK. The horizontal line described by the surface of the water on the body of a ship, when she is immersed with her usual weight of ballast on board. BALLAST-MASTER. A person appointed to see the port-regulations in respect to ballast carried out. BALLAST-PORTS. Square holes cut in the sides of merchantmen for taking in ballast. But should be securely barred and caulked in before proceeding to sea. BALLAST-SHIFTING. When by heavy rolling the ballast shifts in the hold. BALLAST-SHINGLE. Composed of coarse gravel. BALLAST-SHOOTING. (_See_ SHOOTS.) In England, and indeed in most frequented ports, the throwing of ballast overboard is strictly prohibited and subject to fine. BALLAST-SHOVEL. A peculiar square and spoon-pointed iron shovel. BALLAST-TRIM. When a vessel has only ballast on board. BALLATOON. A sort of long heavy luggage-vessel of upwards of a hundred tons, employed on the river between Moscow and the Caspian Sea. BALL-CARTRIDGE. For small arms.