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fairlead

or fair·lead·er

[fair-leed or fair-lee-der]
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noun
  1. a pulley, thimble, etc., used to guide a rope forming part of the rigging of a ship, crane, etc., in such a way as to prevent chafing.
  2. Machinery. (on power shovels or cranes) a swiveling mounting for sheaves, over which cables pass.
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Origin of fairlead

First recorded in 1855–60; fair1 + lead1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for fairlead

Historical Examples

  • Judson was watching the last hawser slipping through the fairlead.

    Soldiers Three, Part II.

    Rudyard Kipling

British Dictionary definitions for fairlead

fairlead

fairleader

noun
  1. nautical a block or ring through which a line is rove to keep it clear of obstructions, prevent chafing, or maintain it at an angleAlso called: leader
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012