Balleny Islands
a group of five small volcanic islands, discovered in the Antarctic Ocean, in 1839, nearly on the Antarctic Circle, and in longitude 164° E. One contains Freeman's Peak (12,000 feet).
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: B (12)
These 15 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Balleny Islands, Ballet, Ballinger.
Ballet
ball'a, a spectacular dance, usually presented as an interlude in a theatrical performance. The ballet is made elaborate by the number of performers, and by the variety of steps, poses, and costumes. 2026 Editor's Note: Ballet outgrew the 'interlude' this entry calls it to become a major art in its own right: Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and The Nutcracker , Diaghilev's revolutionary Ballets Russes , and the ethereal discipline of dancing en pointe made it one of the great performing arts, with the December Nutcracker now a holiday institution. (Ed: BR 2026-07-12)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Ballin (ALBERT German shipmaster)
ALBERT, German shipmaster and financier. He was born in Hamburg, in 1857. He spent several years in England, studying the shipping conditions there, and returned to Germany, where in 1886, when only 29 years old, he became director-general of the Hamburg-America line, the great steamship line, whose operations spread all over the globe. His remarkable administrative and executive abilities were reflected in the growth of the organization, which at the outbreak of the World War had a capital of $37,500,000, gross yearly profits of $15,000,000, and 180 ships on its sailing lists. He was reputed to be a close friend and confidential adviser of the Kaiser, and it was stated that he exerted all his efforts during the conflict to prevent any action on the part of Germany that would bring ALBERT BALLIN the United States into the war. He died suddenly Nov. 10, 1918.
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Ballin (HUGO an American artist born)
HUGO, an American artist, born in New York in 1879. He studied art in New York City and in Rome and Florence and was awarded many prizes both in the United States and in foreign countries, including the Hallgarten prize in 1907. His mural decorations are especially noteworthy, but examples of his easel printings are found in many private and public pu collections. He was a member of many societies of artists, of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and since 1905 an Associate of the National Academy.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Ballinger
RICHARD ACHILLES, an American public official, born in Boonesboro, Ia., in 1858. He was educated at the University of Kansas, Washingto ashington College, and Williams College, graduating from the latter in 1884. He was admitted to the bar in 1886 and for several years practiced law in Kankakee, Ill., and New Decatur, Ala. In 1889 he removed to Port Townsend, Wash., where he remained until 1897, when he removed to Seattle. He was United States Court Commissioner from 1890 to 1892, Judge of the Superior Court of Jefferson co., Wash., from 1894 to 1897, Mayor of Seattle from 1904 to 1906, Commissioner of the General Land Office in Washington from 1907 to 1909, and Secretary of the Interior of President Taft's Cabinet from 1909 to 1911. He resigned in the latter year as a result of a controversy over the coal lands in Alaska. His stand was upheld by President Taft and by an investigation, but to avoid embarrassment to the President he withdrew from office. See ALASKA.
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Balliol College
. See Oxford
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Ballista
a machine used in military operations by the ancients for hurling heavy missiles, thus serving in some degree the purpose of the modern cannon. The motive power appears to have been obtained by the torsion of ropes, fibers, ers, catgut, or hair. They are said to have sometimes had an effective range of quarter of a mile, and to have thrown stones weighing as much as 300 lbs. A. ballistic pendulum is an apparatus for ascertaining the velocity of military projectiles, and consequently the force of fired gunpowder.
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Ballistic Wind
a term applied to a supposititious wind made up of the various actual winds encountered by a projectile in its flight. If affecting the projectile throughout its course, the ballistic wind would produce the same results as the various actual winds encountered.
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Ballistics
the science which treats of the projection of heavy bodies into space. The usual meaning of the term, however, is restricted to the motion of projectiles fired from cannon or small arms. It forms an intricate and difficult study, including an accurate knowledge of mathematics. See ARTILLERY.
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Ballistraria
one of the names given to those projections with narrow apertures, frequent in the walls of old castles, and through which the crossbowmen discharged their arrows. BALLON D'ALSACE (bäl-ôn' d'alsäs'), or ELSÄSSER BELCHEN, one of the highest peaks of the Vosges Mountains; height, 4,101 feet.
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Ballon De Guebwiller
or GEBWEILER BELCHEN, the highest of the Vosges Mountains, in Alsace, France; height, 4,690 feet. BALLOON,. See AERONAUTICS.
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Ballou
HOSEA (ba-lö'), an American Universalist clergyman, journalist, and historian, born at Halifax, Vt., Oct. 18, 1796; was the first President of Tufts College (1854-1861), and was very successful as editor of the "Universalist Magazine." He wrote "Ancient History of Universalism" (1829) and a hymn book (1837). He died at Somerville, Mass., May 27, 1861.
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Ballou
MATURIN MURRAY, an American journalist, born in Boston, April 14, 1820. Besides editing "Ballou's Pictorial," "Ballou's Monthly," etc., he wrote "History of Cuba" (1854); "Biography of Hosea Ballou," "Due West," "Due South" (1885); "Under the Southern Cross," "Footprints of Travel," etc. In 1872 he became one of the founders and the editor-in-chief of the Boston "Globe." He died in Cairo, Egypt, March 27, 1895.
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Ballou, Adin
A Universalist minister who in 1842 formed the Hopedale Community (q.v.). He was one of those whose doctrines prepared the way for spiritualism in America, and who, after that movement had been inaugurated, became one of its most enthusiastic protagonists (See America, U.S. of).
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Balm of Gilead
a resinous liquid obtained from incisions in the bark of a small tree in Arabia and Abyssinia. It was counted a precious substance in Bible times for its fragrance and medicinal qualities. It is a yellow, honey-like substance. Mixed with oil, it constitutes the sacred ointment used in the Roman Catholic church at the consecration of a bishop, and in the rites of baptism of children, confirmation of church members, ordinations of the clergy, and coronation of kings. It is used also in the consecration of churches, altars, and baptismal fonts. The name Balm of Gilead is applied in the United States to a large woolly-leafed, waxy, warty poplar, which, because of its spreading branches, is sometimes planted as a shade tree. The large buds are covered with a resinous gum, hence the name. 2026 Editor's Note: 'Balm in Gilead' became a byword for spiritual comfort — the African-American spiritual ' There Is a Balm in Gilead ,' and Poe's raven croaking at the question 'Is there balm in Gilead?' The place-name took a darker modern turn as 'Gilead,' the theocratic dystopia of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale . (Ed: BR 2026-07-15)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia