Definition

1. Noun:
   • A navigational tool: A "sounding lead" is a weight, typically made of lead, attached to a line (a sounding line) used to measure the depth of water, especially from a ship.

Usage

• The "sounding lead" is a traditional maritime instrument. It is lowered into the water until it touches the bottom. The length of the line paid out indicates the water's depth.
• This tool was historically crucial for safe navigation in shallow or unfamiliar waters.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Heaving the lead": This is the traditional phrase for the act of throwing the sounding lead into the water to take a measurement.
  • The crew took turns heaving the lead as the ship entered the coastal waters.

Variants and Related Words

• Sounding line (n): The marked rope or line to which the sounding lead is attached.
  • The markings on the sounding line showed a depth of ten fathoms.

Synonyms

• Plummet: A weight attached to a line for determining verticality or depth. (Note: "Plummet" is more general, while "sounding lead" is specific to maritime depth measurement.)
• Lead line: Another term for the combined tool (the weight and the marked line).

Notes

• The term is specific to historical and traditional seamanship. Modern vessels use electronic depth sounders (echosounders).
• The "lead" in "sounding lead" refers to the metal lead (Pb), due to its high density, which makes it an effective weight.

Noun

1. a metal bob at the end of a sounding line