Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 4–6 balynger, -ingar, 5 -gere, balangar, -yngar, -engere, ballenger, -unger, balyner, 5–6 ballynger, 5–8 balenger, 6 balengar, -anger, ballyngare, -ingere, -ingar, 7 -anger, -inger, 6–9 -enger, 5– balinger. [a. AF. balengier (Froissart), ballenjer (in Du Cange), = OF. baleinier, a whale-ship, f. baleine whale; afterwards employed generically: so It. baleniera ‘kind of light pinnace.’] A small and light sea-going vessel, apparently a kind of sloop, much used in the 15th and 16th centuries; according to Adm. Smyth, without forecastle. Its nature was already forgotten in 1670, when Blount could only infer the meaning of the word from old statutes; but the term is commonly used by modern historians in referring to the naval affairs of those times.
1391. in MS. Reg. Test. Ebor., I. 67. [Rob. de Rillington of Scarbro’ leaves to Wm. Percy] dimidietatem nostri balingar.
[1400. Henry IV., Brief, in Rymer Fœdera, VIII. 147. Aliquam Navem, Bargeam, sive Balingeram, de Guerra Armatam.]
c. 1400. Petit. in Parl. 2 Hen. IV., xxii. Pur faire certeines Barges & Balyngers.
a. 1422. Hen. V., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., III. 31, I. 72. Our grete shippes, carrakes, barges and balyngers.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 108. Foure htill shippes at facon of balingers.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xlvi. 158. They knewe by theyr balengers that the armye of Englande was comynge.
1531–2. Act 23 Hen. VIII., v. § 2. The common passages of shyppes balengers and botes.
1598. Stow, Survey (Strype, 1754), I. I. xiii. 57/1. By means whereof Boats and Ballangers were hindered in their passages.
1622. Callis, Stat. Sewers (1647), 34. A Port is a harbor and safe arrival for ships, boats, and ballengers of burthen.
1670. Blount, Law Dict., Balenger, Seems to have been a kind of Barge or Water-vessel, by the Statute 28 H. 6, cap. 5.
1865. W. Miller, Jott. Kent, 45. In the year 1401 … the barges with eighty, and the balingers with forty men.
fig. c. 1502. Joseph Arim. (Pynson), 425. Hayle! myghty balynger, charged with plenty!
b. Comb. balinger-master (cf. ship-master).
1463. Mann. & Househ. Exp., 194. John More my balynger master.
