Balance

He has a good balance at his bankers. His credit side shows a large balance in his favour.

Balance of power. The States of Europe being so balanced that no one nation shall have such a preponderance as to endanger the independence of another.

Balance of trade. The money-value difference between the exports and imports of a nation.

To balance an account. To add up the debit and credit sides, and subtract the less of the two from the greater. The remainder is called the balance.

To strike a balance. To calculate the exact difference, if any, between the debit and credit side of an account.

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.