ballaster was a commodious shooting-box in Scotland, the possession of an hospitable peer.
ballaster conferred with them pursuant to the instructions he had received, but found them obstinate and unmannerly.
"heavy material used to steady a ship," 1520s, from Middle English bar "bare" (see bare; in this case "mere") + last "a load, burden," or borrowed from identical terms in North Sea Germanic and Scandinavian (cf. Old Danish barlast, 14c.). "Mere" because not carried for commercial purposes. Dutch balg-last "ballast," literally "belly-load," is a folk-etymology corruption.