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3. The whole number of votes cast at an election, or in a given territory or electoral district.

Ballot box, a box for receiving ballots.

Bal"lot (bl"lt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Balloted; p. pr. & vb. n. Balloting.] [F. ballotter to toss, to ballot, or It. ballottare. See Ballot, n.] To vote or decide by ballot; as, to ballot for a candidate.

Bal"lot, v. t. To vote for or in opposition to.

None of the competitors arriving to a sufficient number of balls, they fell to ballot some others. Sir H. Wotton.

Bal"lo*tade` (bl"l*täd` or - td`), n. [F. ballottade, fr. ballotter to toss. See Ballot, v. i.] (Man.) A leap of a horse, as between two pillars, or upon a straight line, so that when his four feet are in the air, he shows only the shoes of his hind feet, without jerking out.

Bal`lo*ta"tion (&?;), n. Voting by ballot. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

Bal"lot*er (&?;), n. One who votes by ballot.

Bal"lo*tin (&?;), n. [F.] An officer who has charge of a ballot box. [Obs.] Harrington.

Bal"low (&?;), n. A cudgel. [Obs.] Shak.

Ball"proof` (&?;), a. Incapable of being penetrated by balls from firearms.

Ball"room` (&?;), n. A room for balls or dancing.

Balm (bäm), n. [OE. baume, OF. bausme, basme, F. baume, L. balsamum balsam, from Gr. ba`lsamon; perhaps of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. bsm. Cf. Balsam.]

1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus Melissa.

2. The resinous and aromatic exudation of certain trees or shrubs. Dryden.

3. Any fragrant ointment. Shak.

4. Anything that heals or that mitigates pain. "Balm for each ill." Mrs. Hemans.

Balm cricket (Zoöl.), the European cicada. Tennyson. -- Balm of Gilead (Bot.), a small evergreen African and Asiatic tree of the terebinthine family (Balsamodendron Gileadense). Its leaves yield, when bruised, a strong aromatic scent; and from this tree is obtained the balm of Gilead of the shops, or balsam of Mecca. This has a yellowish or greenish color, a warm, bitterish, aromatic taste, and a fragrant smell. It is valued as an unguent and cosmetic by the Turks. The fragrant herb Dracocephalum Canariense is familiarly called balm of Gilead, and so are the American trees, Populus balsamifera, variety candicans (balsam poplar), and Abies balsamea (balsam fir).

Balm, v. t. To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal. Hence: To soothe; to mitigate. [Archaic] Shak.

Balm"i*fy (&?;), v. t. [Balm + - fy.] To render balmy. [Obs.] Cheyne.

Balm"i*ly, adv. In a balmy manner. Coleridge.

Bal*mor"al (&?;), n. [From Balmoral Castle, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.] 1. A long woolen petticoat, worn immediately under the dress.

2. A kind of stout walking shoe, laced in front.

A man who uses his balmorals to tread on your toes. George Eliot.

Balm"y (&?;), a. 1. Having the qualities of balm; odoriferous; aromatic; assuaging; soothing; refreshing; mild. "The balmy breeze." Tickell.

Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep! Young.

2. Producing balm. "The balmy tree." Pope.