Plimsoll mark

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. load-line mark.

---

Etymology

Origin of Plimsoll mark

1880–85; named after Samuel Plimsoll (1824–98), English member of Parliament who brought about its adoption

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Plimsoll mark

A few were laden to the Plimsoll mark with cryolite from Greenland, fluorspar from Newfoundland, pitch and coke from the U.S.

From Time Magazine Archive

Having avoided the scrutiny of the efficient and official, we painted out our Plimsoll mark with tongue in cheek and eyelid drooped, and, this done, took our stores aboard and packed them pretty tight.

From South with Scott by Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans, Baron Mountevans

Yet she was pretty well down to her Plimsoll mark.

From Sheila of Big Wreck Cove A Story of Cape Cod by R. Emmett (Robert Emmett) Owen

So the clever man heightens the Plimsoll mark, adds a million or so to shipowners’ capital by dipping his pen in the ink, and gives Jack more jam.

From The Sea and the Jungle by H. M. (Henry Major) Tomlinson

The Plimsoll mark was a series of measurements in feet, running from the maximum depth at which the ship should lie in the water down toward the keel.

From Smugglers' Reef by John Blaine