lead line

American  

[led] / lɛd /

noun

Nautical.

1. a line by which a lead is lowered into the water to take soundings: in deep-sea practice, divided into levels one fathom apart, variously treated as marks and deeps.

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lead line British  

/ lɛd /

noun

1. nautical a length of line for swinging a lead, marked at various points to indicate multiples of fathoms

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Etymology

Origin of lead line

First recorded in 1475–85

Example Sentences

The infrastructure and reconciliation bills pending in Congress include billions to address lead line replacement that activists say could make a significant difference.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 4, 2021

He said the decisions to provide bottled water and speed up lead line replacement were “an appropriate escalation of that response.”

From New York Times • Oct. 16, 2021

She was tied to a long lead line in the yard while her owners were at work.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2018

That ability and his laid-back disposition gave Cecere an idea: Why not train the eagle to free-fly, without a lead line attached, at events during the national anthem?

From Washington Post • Jan. 12, 2018

But in the end they had to rattle up the lead line and pull Carl fully into the folds of his net.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson