ba·laam \ˈbāləm\noun (-s) Etymology: after Balaam, biblical prophet rebuked by his ass (Num 22-24); probably from newspaper fillers being regarded as asinine 1.slang: filler 1d(1) 2.slang: worthless or rejected newspaper or magazine copy < could not prevent the publication of a certain amount of balaam — J.B.Hubbell >