A load or weight placed in opposition to another load to balance or offset it, commonly used in ships and construction.
From 'counter-' (against) plus 'lode' (from Old English 'hlād', meaning cargo or load). The term developed in maritime contexts to describe ballast and counterweights used for stability.
Sailors have used counterlodes for centuries—if a ship carried heavy cargo on one side, they'd place ballast (heavy material) on the opposite side to prevent capsizing. Modern shipbuilders still use this principle!
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