kentledge

English

Etymology

From Old French quintelage (“ballast”).

Noun

kentledge (countable and uncountable, plural kentledges)

  1. (nautical) Weights (often scrap or pig iron) used as permanent ballast on ships.
  2. A system of weights (usually concrete or cast-iron blocks) used for load-testing piled foundations.
    • 1954 November, “Bridge Removal on the Alnwick to Coldstream Line”, in Railway Magazine, page 797:
      A kentledge of scrap chairs was placed in the bottom booms of the girders at the south end to counterbalance the weight of the rail rolling track fixed under the north half, and to increase stability.
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