ballon d'essai
/ˌbalɒ̃ dɛˈseɪ/noun
A project or piece of policy put forward to test the feeling or attitude of a person or body of people; an experimental measure or proposal, a ‘feeler’.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in The Times. From French ballon d'essai project or piece of policy put forward to test the feeling or attitude of a person or body of people, experimental measure or proposal, transferred use of ballon d'essai trial balloon from ballon + de + essai.
- well-motivated
- well-motived
- well-moulded
- well-mounted
- well-mouthed
- well-named
- well-natured
- well-near
- wellness
- well-nigh
- well-nosed
- well-noted
- well-nourished
- well-nurtured
- well-oared
- well-observed
- well-occupied
- well off
- well-offness
- well oiled
- well-omened
- well-operated
- well-opinioned
- well-orchestrated
- well-order