Ballon
the lightness and grace of movement that make a dancer appear buoyant.
Contemporary Examples
“Taking 20 pages of a book not released yet is less likely to be deemed fair use,” ballon said.
The Legal Brawl Over Palin’s Book Shushannah Walshe November 21, 2010
Historical Examples
And it was at this period that the expedient of the ballon sonde, or unmanned balloon, was happily thought of.
The Dominion of the Air J. M. Bacon
This is no doubt what is technically known as a ballon d’essai.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 150, May 10, 1916 Various
ballon d’essai—A balloon sent up to ascertain the direction of the wind; any test of public feeling.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources James Wood
That was a ballon d’essai, as they call it, and they think it was a very happy one.
Royal Highness Thomas Mann
From Thann the ascent of the ballon d’Alsace may be made, but the place itself must on no account be missed.
In the Heart of Vosges Matilda Betham-Edwards
The drink I took went into my head, and I felt as though I was going up in a ballon.
Outward Bound Oliver Optic
In the hinder part of this ballon, a little above the surface of the water, a small hole must be bored.
Elements of the Theory and Practice of Chymistry, 5th ed. Pierre Joseph Macquer
With this bit of philosophy Mlle. Fouchette buried her dainty nose in the last “ballon.”
Mlle. Fouchette Charles Theodore Murray
Meanwhile, this volume of essays (most of which were in course of preparation when war was declared) is issued as a ballon dessai.
Studies in the History and Method of Science Various
n.
“smoothness in dancing, lightness of step,” 1830, from French ballon, literally “balloon” (see balloon (n.)).
Read Also:
- Ballonet
an air or gasbag compartment in a balloon or airship, used to control buoyancy and maintain shape. Historical Examples The wind blowing against the opening, which faces it, charges the ballonet with air. Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of War Frederick A. Talbot The air pump, which should have pumped the ballonet full of air to keep […]
- Ballonne
a broad leap with a battement to the front, side, or back.
- Balloon
a bag made of thin rubber or other light material, usually brightly colored, inflated with air or with some lighter-than-air gas and used as a children’s plaything or as a decoration. a bag made of a light material, as silk or plastic, filled with heated air or a gas lighter than air, designed to rise […]
- Balloon angioplasty
a method of opening a clogged or narrowed blood vessel in which a small balloon is introduced into the vessel by means of a catheter and then inflated at the site of blockage. balloon angioplasty n. A procedure in which a catheter equipped with a tiny balloon at the tip is inserted into an artery […]
- Balloon barrage
a series of moored balloons, usually strung together and hung with cables, for impeding a low-level attack by enemy aircraft.