kentledge

kentledge

A ship's crew carefully arranges kentledge in the hold.

Definition
  1. Noun (Maritime):
    • Permanent ballast: "kentledge" refers to heavy iron or lead blocks, or pig iron, used as permanent ballast in a ship's hold to improve stability and reduce rolling.
Usage Examples
  • (The permanent ballast was positioned in the lowest part of the hull to prevent excessive rocking.)
  • (The ballast blocks were moved to balance the ship's weight distribution.)
Advanced Usage

  • "To shift kentledge": to rearrange the permanent ballast to alter a ship's centre of gravity.

    • The captain ordered the crew to shift the kentledge forward to compensate for heavy cargo aft. (The ballast blocks were moved toward the bow of the ship.)

  • "Kentledge in the hold": a phrase indicating the presence of fixed ballast, often used in ship design discussions.

    • The naval architect specified 20 tons of kentledge in the hold to meet stability requirements. (The designer required permanent ballast to ensure the ship would not capsize.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Kentledge (n): no common variants; the word is typically used in its singular form.
  • Ballast (n): any heavy material placed in a ship to provide stability (broader category).
    • The ship carried both water ballast and kentledge for different conditions. (The vessel used both liquid and solid weight for stability.)
Synonyms
  • Pig iron: crude iron cast in blocks, often used as kentledge.
  • Permanent ballast: ballast that remains in the ship long-term, as opposed to temporary ballast like water.
  • Lead blocks: heavy lead bars or slabs used for the same purpose.
Phrasal Verbs
  • Kentledge down: to secure or fix the kentledge in place.
    • The crew kentledged down the iron blocks before setting sail. (They fastened the permanent ballast to prevent shifting.)
Related Idioms
  • "Carry kentledge": a nautical idiom meaning to keep a ship stable, often used metaphorically to describe maintaining balance in a difficult situation.
    • In turbulent negotiations, the diplomat had to carry kentledge to keep the talks on an even keel. (He had to maintain stability and composure during the discussions.)