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Showing results for kentledge. Search instead for kentledges.

kentledge

American  
[kent-lij] / ˈkɛnt lɪdʒ /

noun

Nautical.
  1. pig iron used as permanent ballast.


kentledge British  
/ ˈkɛntlɪdʒ /

noun

  1. nautical scrap metal used as ballast in a vessel

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of kentledge

First recorded in 1600–10; origin uncertain


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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 Herman Melville

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 Richard L. Maury

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 Joel Tyler Headley

Captain Biddle threw overboard some of his heavy spars, cut away the sheet anchor and flung several tons of kentledge into the sea.

From Dewey and Other Naval Commanders by Edward Sylvester Ellis

The nets, booms, kentledge, and grapnels which he arranged around the Argus made a formidable appearance against one torpedo-boat and eight bad oarsmen.

From The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 2 by Frederick Whymper

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