ballast 的詞源

古英語 bær 意爲“裸露的，未覆蓋的，未穿衣的”，源自原始日耳曼語 *bazaz（也指德語 bar，古諾爾斯語 berr，荷蘭語 baar），源自原始印歐語 *bhoso- “裸露的”（也指亞美尼亞語 bok “裸露的”； 古教會斯拉夫語 bosu，立陶宛語 basas “赤腳的”）。“純粹的，絕對的”（約1200年）的意思來自“完全自足”的概念。

"a burden, a cargo," especially "a load of some commodity with reference to its weight and commercial value," c.1300, from Old English hlæst "a load," from hladan "to lade, load" (see lade (v.)). Borrowed into Anglo-French as lest, which influenced the Middle English form. Cognates include Old Frisan hlest, Dutch last, German Last "a load." Related: Lastage "the lading of a ship," and compare ballast.