kentledge

American  

[kent-lij] / ˈkɛnt lɪdʒ /

noun

Nautical.

1. pig iron used as permanent ballast.

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kentledge British  

/ ˈkɛntlɪdʒ /

noun

1. nautical scrap metal used as ballast in a vessel

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Etymology

Origin of kentledge

First recorded in 1600–10; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

By sport of bitter weather We're walty, strained, and scarred From the kentledge on the kelson To the slings upon the yard.

From Verses 1889-1896 by Kipling, Rudyard

The ward-room was then scuttled to get at the kentledge, twelve tons of which were thrown overboard.

From The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of 2 by Headley, Joel Tyler

The anchor to each is an eighteen inch shell and a piece of kentledge so placed as to prevent the barrels from fouling the buoy ropes at the change of the tide.

From A brief sketch of the work of Matthew Fontaine Maury during the war, 1861-1865 by Maury, Richard L.

Captain Biddle then ordered the remaining anchors cut away, the cables heaved overboard, together with more kentledge, shot, provision, the launch and six guns.

From The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of 2 by Headley, Joel Tyler

Laying the body out on the forehatch, it was stitched up in one of the hammocks, some "kentledge" being placed at the feet instead of shot.

From Omoo by Melville, Herman