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Balloon (A pilot)

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Metaphorically, a feeler, sent to ascertain public opinion.

“The pilot balloon sent from … has shown [the sender] the direction of the wind, and he now trims his sails accordingly.”—Newspaper paragraph, January, 1886.

 

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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.

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Ball
Balls
Ballad
Ballads
Ballambangjan (The Straits of)
Ballast
Balle
Ballendino (Don Antonio)
Ballet (pronounce bal-lay)
Balliol College
Balloon (A pilot)
Balloon Post
Balm (French, baume)
Balmawhapple
Balmérino (Lord)
Balmung or Gram
Balmy
Balmy-stick (To put on the)
Balnibarbi
Balthazar
Baltic