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drift lead

American  
[led] / lɛd /

noun

Nautical.

  1. a lead indicating, by the angle its line makes with the perpendicular, the movement of a supposedly stationary ship or the movement of water past a stationary ship.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Inequalities in the thickness of drift lead to a still further modification of the surface.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as the Bronx had lost her headway, the screw was stopped, and a drift lead was dropped into the water.

From Project Gutenberg

No variation of the drift lead had been reported, and the Bronx was not even swinging at her anchor.

From Project Gutenberg

"Mr. Flint, drop a drift lead, and station a hand to observe it," said Christy, hailing the first lieutenant.

From Project Gutenberg

"A drift lead, sir," replied Mr. Flint.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.