Part 882

<hw>Bal"la*try</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>See <er>Balladry</er>.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Milton.</i>

<h1>Ballet</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Bal"let`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F., a dim. of <ets>bal</ets> dance. See 2d <er>Ball</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>An artistic dance performed as a theatrical entertainment, or an interlude, by a number of persons, usually women. Sometimes, a scene accompanied by pantomime and dancing.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The company of persons who perform the ballet.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>A light part song, or madrigal, with a <i>fa la</i> burden or chorus, -- most common with the Elizabethan madrigal composers.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>A bearing in coats of arms, representing one or more balls, which are denominated bezants, plates, etc., according to color.</def>

<h1>Ball-flower</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Ball"-flow`er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>An ornament resembling a ball placed in a circular flower, the petals of which form a cup round it, -- usually inserted in a hollow molding.</def>

<h1>Ballista</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Bal*lis"ta</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Ballist<?/e</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L. <ets>ballista</ets>, <ets>balista</ets>, fr. Gr. <ets><?/</ets> to throw.]</ety> <def>An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.</def>

<h1>Ballister</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Bal"lis*ter</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>ballista</ets>. Cf. <er>Balister</er>.]</ety> <def>A crossbow.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Ballistic</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Bal*lis"tic</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Of or pertaining to the ballista, or to the art of hurling stones or missile weapons by means of an engine.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Pertaining to projection, or to a projectile.</def>

<cs><col>Ballistic pendulum</col>, <cd>an instrument consisting of a mass of wood or other material suspended as a pendulum, for measuring the force and velocity of projectiles by means of the arc through which their impact impels it.</cd></cs>

<h1>Ballistics</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Bal*lis"tics</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>balistique</ets>. See <er>Ballista</er>.]</ety> <def>The science or art of hurling missile weapons by the use of an engine.</def>

<i>Whewell.</i>

<h1>Ballium</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Bal"li*um</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL.]</ety> <def>See <er>Bailey</er>.</def>

<h1>Balloon</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Bal*loon"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>ballon</ets>, aug. of <ets>balle</ets> ball: cf. It. <ets>ballone</ets>. See 1st <er>Ball</er>, <tt>n.</tt>, and cf. <er>Pallone</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A bag made of silk or other light material, and filled with hydrogen gas or heated air, so as to rise and float in the atmosphere; especially, one with a car attached for a\'89rial navigation.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>A ball or globe on the top of a pillar, church, etc., as at St. Paul's, in London.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>A round vessel, usually with a short neck, to hold or receive whatever is distilled; a glass vessel of a spherical form.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Pyrotechnics)</fld> <def>A bomb or shell.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>A game played with a large inf<?/ated ball.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>