A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Ballast, Ballas, v. Also: ballest, ballist, bellast. [e.m.E. balissed p.p. (1538), ballassed p.p., ballace, ballast, f. the sb.] tr. To ballast.1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 93 (to iij barromen ballasand ane crayer). a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvi. 32 (without scho ballast be behind). 1601 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 290 (that na schipp[er]is bellast thair schippis … ). 1611 Conv. Burghs II. 319 (the ballesting of fische bottis). 1641 Baillie I. 356 (our ship was verie evill ballast).
