leadn.1
/lɛd/, U.S. /lɛd/ 1. † b. After Latin use, lead was sometimes called black lead (= Latin plumbum nigrum) in contradistinction to white lead (plumbum album), used as a name for tin. Obsolete.
a. The heaviest of the base metals, of a dull pale bluish-gray colour, fusible at a low temperature, and very useful from its softness and malleability. Chemical symbol Pb. Rarely plural = kinds of lead. †to lie, be wrapped in lead: to be buried in a lead coffin. So to lay, lap in lead: see lap v.2 3. Obsolete.
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the world > matter > chemistry > elements and compounds > metals > specific elements > lead > [noun]
leadc900
bluey1851
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > lead
leadc900
black leada1398
blue pigeon1735
blue lead1790
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > types of burial or entombment > be buried in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > be buried in specific container or covering
to lie, be wrapped in leadc1330
to be buried in woollen1666
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) i. Introd. 26 Swylce hit [sc. þis land] is eac berende on wecga orum ares & isernes, leades & seolfres.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2839 Ofte heo letten grund-hat læd [c1300 Otho leod] gliden heom an heore hæfd.
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 208/272 Þe feondes welden led and bras.
c1300 Seyn Julian 171 A chetel he sette ouer þe fier, and fulde it uol of lede.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 229 Þe patriark þe legate liggis in lede.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 141 Þe asse of þe melle þet ase bleþeliche berþ bere ase huite, and lyad ase þet corn.
c1430 J. Lydgate in J. H. Parker Some Acct. Domest. Archit. (1859) III. 39 Euery hous couerid was with leede.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur v. viii. 174 [He] leyd them in chestys of leed.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 152 The feyndis gaif thame hait leid to laip.
c1540 Pilgrim's Tale 24 in F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) App. i. 77 Houses of office on and other, Where-on of leyd lay many a fowther.
1578 R. Day Bk. Christian Prayers 83 We Earles and Barons were sometime: Now wrapt in lead, are turnd to slime.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iii. ii. 176 What studied torments (Tyrant) hast for me?.. What flaying? boyling? In Leads, or Oyles? View more context for this quotation
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) Lead and all its products turn into glass by a strong fire.
1855 J. R. Leifchild Cornwall: Mines & Miners 239 The Cornish and Devon leads are very rich in silver.
1866 H. E. Roscoe Lessons Elem. Chem. xxiv. 210 Lead does not occur free in nature.
ΚΠ
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 13 There are two sortes of Lead, the one white, and the other black... That other black Lead is found most in Cantabrie.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Black-lead The common lead being the true black lead, so called by way of contradistinction from tin, otherwise called white lead.
c. With allusion to its qualities; e.g. its weight, colour, want of elasticity, low value, etc., in both literal and figurative expressions.
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the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > worthless
hawc1000
turdc1275
fille1297
dusta1300
lead1303
skitc1330
naught1340
vanityc1340
wrakea1350
rushc1350
dirt1357
fly's wing1377
goose-wing1377
fartc1390
chaff?a1400
nutshella1400
shalec1400
yardc1400
wrack1472
pelfrya1529
trasha1529
dreg1531
trish-trash1542
alchemy1547
beggary?1548
rubbish1548
pelfa1555
chip1556
stark naught1562
paltry?1566
rubbish1566
riff-raff1570
bran1574
baggage1579
nihil1579
trush-trash1582
stubblea1591
tartar1590
garbage1592
bag of winda1599
a cracked or slit groat1600
kitchen stuff1600
tilta1603
nothing?1608
bauble1609
countera1616
a pair of Yorkshire sleeves in a goldsmith's shop1620
buttermilk1630
dross1632
paltrement1641
cattle1643
bagatelle1647
nothingness1652
brimborion1653
stuff1670
flap-dragon1700
mud1706
caput mortuuma1711
snuff1778
twaddle1786
powder-post1790
traffic1828
junk1836
duffer1852
shice1859
punk1869
hogwash1870
cagmag1875
shit1890
tosh1892
tripe1895
dreck1905
schlock1906
cannon fodder1917
shite1928
skunk1929
crut1937
chickenshit1938
crud1943
Mickey Mouse1958
gick1959
garbo1978
turd1978
pants1994
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > lead > lead with allusion to qualities
lead1303
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 11730 Þys Ananyas fyl downe dede As blak as any lede.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16454 Þai þe fine gold for-soke, and to þam to þe lede.
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. x. 3623 Oure gold wes changyd in to lede.
c1440 York Myst. xviii. 20 Me thynke myne eyne hevye as leede.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) xvii. 76 Dyane derlyng pale as any leade.
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia i. sig. Fviiv They haue wrested and wriede hys [sc. Christ's] doctryne, and lyke a rule of leade haue applyed yt to mennys maners.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. i. 6 A heauie Summons lyes like Lead vpon me. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iii. xi. 72 Loue I am full of Lead . View more context for this quotation
1646 W. Jenkyn Reformation's Remora 9 Shall our Reformation have an heel of lead?
1648 Bp. J. Hall Breathings Devout Soul xliv. 75 Pull this lead out of my bosome.
1725 E. Young Universal Passion: Satire II 10 How just his grief? one carrys in his head A less proportion of the father's lead.
1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere vii, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 46 The Ship went down like lead.
1861 J. Edmond Children's Church at Home x. 157 He might have left everything the colour of lead.
1927 Amer. Speech Mar. 278/1 Shake out the lead, start action.
1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §578/26 Get the lead out of your pants, to play allegro.
1948 F. Brown Dead Ringer i. 15 Quit asking..questions and get the lead out.
1961 Lebende Sprachen 6 101/1 He's as lazy as they come, he's got lead in his pants, shoes.
1964 P. G. Wodehouse Frozen Assets vi. 115 She knows I'm in imminent danger of dying of malnutrition unless she takes the lead out of her pants and gets a move on with that picture.
1967 P. G. Wodehouse Company for Henry xii. 207 Those wedding bells aren't going to ring if you don't take the lead out of your pants and get a move on.
d. With defining prefix, as cast-lead, milled-lead, pig-lead, pot-lead, sheet-lead, for which see the first element.
2. red lead: a red oxide of lead obtained from litharge by exposing it to hot air, much used as a pigment; = minium n. white lead (or simply lead): a mixture of lead carbonate and hydrated lead oxide, much used as a pigment; = ceruse n. yellow lead: (see quot.). blue lead: see blue lead n.1
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the world > matter > colour > named colours > red or redness > red colouring matter > [noun] > red lead
red leadc1450
minium1601
minion1621
litharge1683
the world > matter > chemistry > elements and compounds > metals > specific elements > lead > [noun] > compounds > others
litharge of goldc1400
red leadc1450
tetraethyl lead1923
plumbane1950
c1450 Middle Eng. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 203 Tak..iij quarter of whyt led Tak a quart of oile and red led.
1658 W. Sanderson Graphice 54 Most excellent pure Virgin Colours are Ceruse and White leade.
1687 Philos. Trans. 1686–7 (Royal Soc.) 16 27 Red-lead, a colour unknown to the Antients.
1727 J. Swift Progress of Beauty in Misc. Last vol. ii. 250 White Lead was sent us to repair..A Lady's Face, and China-Ware.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) The common calx of lead, red lead.
1827 R. Nesbit in J. M. Mitchell Mem. R. Nesbit (1858) iii. 80 It [the idol] was painted with red lead.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 747 Lead ores... 12. Yellow lead. Molybdate of lead.
1844 G. Fownes Man. Elem. Chem. 294 Red oxide; red lead.
1844 G. Fownes Man. Elem. Chem. 295 Carbonate of lead; white lead.
3. Short for black lead n., graphite, or plumbago. Only with reference to its use as a material for pencils. Hence, a small stick of graphite for filling an ‘ever-pointed’ pencil. lead in one's pencil: implying (esp. sexual) vigour in a male.
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the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > native elements and alloys > [noun] > native carbon
black lead?a1560
wad1614
killow1666
wad-lead1780
plumbago1784
graphite1796
plumbagine1800
kish1812
lead1816
pot lead1876
cliftonite1887
shungite1892
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > mineral material > [noun] > graphite
black lead?a1560
wad1614
killow1666
wad-lead1780
plumbago1784
graphite1796
plumbagine1800
lead1816
pot lead1876
society > communication > writing > writing materials > writing instrument > [noun] > pencil > filling for pencil
lead1816
pencil-piece1839
pencil lead1857
refill1883
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > [noun] > sexual potency or vigour
ability?1473
Lusty Juventus1582
virility1598
mettle1612
manhood1640
potency1739
potence1875
lead in one's pencil1941
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > male sexual vigour
lead in one's pencil1941
1816 J. Austen Emma III. iv. 54 When he took out his pencil, there was so little lead that he soon cut it all away. View more context for this quotation
1840 Penny Cycl. XVII. 402/1 Pencils are commonly marked with certain letters to denote the quality of the lead, as H for hard, B for black [etc.].. Most [ever-pointed pencil] cases are made with a reservoir at the top, in which a supply of five or six leads may be carried.
1881 W. M. Williams in Knowledge No. 4. 67 A thin stick..like vermicelli, or the ‘leads’ of ever-pointed pencils.
1922 S. Lewis Babbitt i. 9 A silver pencil (always lacking a supply of new leads).
1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 43 (This will) put some lead in your pencil, this (esp. a drink of beer or spirits) will make you feel fighting fit.
1946 P. Larkin Jill 190 ‘Well, ere's more lead in yer pencil.’ He finished off his half-pint.
1969 Coast to Coast 1967–8 86 He..lifts one of the brimming pilsener glasses: ‘Come an' get it! It's curl-a-mo chico. Lead in the old pencil.’
1970 Kay & Co. (Worcester) Catal. 1970–71 Autumn–Winter 947/3 Pencil both propels and retracts, contains twelve 3 inch leads.
1970 A. Draper Swansong for Rare Bird vii. 59 She came over with two glasses. ‘If that doesn't put some lead in your pencil, Auk, I don't know what will.’
1972 D. Lees Zodiac 107 The couscous is supposed to put lead in your pencil but with Daria I needed neither a talking point nor an aphrodisiac.
4. † b. A plate of lead. Obsolete.
a. The metal regarded as fashioned into some object, e.g. †a seal, †the plummet of a plumb-line, †a pipe or conduit, a leaden coffin, a bullet, the leaden part of anything. (cold) lead, bullets.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for marking out work > [noun] > plumb-line or chalk-line > part of
lead1340
line pin1688
plumb bob1836
society > communication > indication > marking > imprinting > sealing > [noun] > engraved stamp used for
inseila1000
seala1300
lead1340
signet1392
sinetc1440
jark1567
cashet1609
sigila1610
ring1637
cacheta1639
signet ring1726
cylinder seal1887
society > occupation and work > equipment > conveyor > [noun] > conduit, channel, or tube
conduit1340
conveyance1577
forcer1598
lead1598
suspiracle1598
trunk1610
by-conduit1631
ducture1670
boxing1683
duct1713
launder1736
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > bullet or shell > bullet
bullet1579
lead1598
slug1622
lead towel1812
blue pill1834
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > receptacle for remains > [noun] > coffin > leaden coffin
lead1771
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > bullet or shell > bullet > collectively
musket shot?1586
great shot1593
lead1809
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 150 He deþ al..to þe line and to þe reule and to þe leade and to þe leuele.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 151 Efterward he proueþ ofte his work mid lead.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 309 Men of þis world dreden more þe popis leed.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. iii. 34 God keepe leade out of me. View more context for this quotation
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 273 Let not me..be like the Lead Which to a Citie from some Conduit-head Brings holsome waters.
c1650 Balow iv, in F. J. Furnivall R. Laneham's Let. (1871) Pref. 172 The iudge of heavin and hell By some predestined deadlie lead,..hath struke him dead.
1771 E. Burke Corr. (1844) I. 330 My passions are not to be roused..by those who lie in their cold lead.
1809 T. G. Fessenden Pills 32 Thus our sporting democrats..When they can't reason with a Fed, For logick substitute cold lead.
1837 W. H. Wharton Let. in Ann. Rep. Amer. Hist. Assoc. 1907 (1908) II. 190 We would give Mexico nothing but lead.
1846 Knickerbocker Mag. 27 560 Instead of gold and silver, you took it in cold lead!
1884 Law Times Rep. 51 161/2 The attachments to buildings were made..by a bolt screwed into the lead of the ridge.
1887 Times (Weekly ed.) 23 Dec. 6/1 If you don't stand loyal..you will get the lead.
1891 M. E. Ryan Told in Hills 332 [The message] belongs to the command, and I may get a dose of cold lead before I could deliver it.
1918 C. Sandburg Cornhuskers 50 Three riders emptied lead into him.
1964 F. O'Rourke Mule for Marquesa 146 Get 'em up or we'll pump you full of lead!
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > lead > lead in specific form > plate
lead?1523
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxviiv Layd vpon..a thynne sclate, or leed.
5.
a. A large pot, cauldron, or kettle; a large open vessel used in brewing and various other operations. (Originally, one made of lead, but early used without reference to the material.) Now dialect.
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the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > equipment for food preparation > cooking vessel or pot > [noun] > cauldron or kettle
kettlea700
leada1100
cauldronc1300
chetelc1300
stewc1305
chaldron1555
bashron1660
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > vessel in which liquid is boiled > [noun] > cauldron
leada1100
cauldronc1300
welling-lead1371
chaldron1555
witch's cauldron1762
set-pot1839
the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > brewing > [noun] > vat or vessel for brewing or fermenting
ale fateOE
sesterc1000
bruthen-leadc1275
kimnel1335
tine1337
gyle-fat1341
yeast-fat1367
brew-lead1369
coomb?a1400
gyle-tunc1425
brewing-lead1444
brewing vessel1462
work lead1471
lead1504
brewing copper1551
gyle-tub1568
kier1573
batch1697
ale vat1701
working tun1703
tun1713
brewing tub1766
flat1791
round1806
beck1828
gyle1836
tun-tub1842
stone-square1882
a1100 Gerefa in Anglia (1886) 9 264 Hwer, lead, cytel, etc.
c1250 Death 242 in Old Eng. Misc. 182 Also beoð his eȝe-puttes ase a bruþen led.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 924 Y shal..make the broys in the led.
13.. in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen 79 449 A lede of bras then did he bring with pik fullfilled.
1370–80 XI Pains Hell 37 in Old Eng. Misc. App. iii. 224 Þer weore þei turmented in þo ledes.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Sam. ii. 14 He putte it [the fleshhook] into the leede or into the cawdroun.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 202 Hise eyen steepe, and rollynge in his heed That stemed as a fourneys of a leed.
1428 Surtees Misc. (1888) 6 Yt suld hafe brynt oute his lede bothom.
c1430 Two Cookery-bks. 39 Caste hym to seþe with þin grete Fleysshe, in lede oþer in Cauderoun.
1504 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 101 I will that they shall haue all brewyng ledys.
1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour l. 5103 in Wks. (1931) I Sum, brynt; sum, soddin in to leiddis.
1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle iv. ii. sig. Diiv Haue you not..behind your furnace or leade: A hole where a crafty knaue, may crepe in for neades.
1639 T. de Gray Compl. Horseman ii. vi. 137 Put all these into a Lead or Chalderon.
1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale Leäd, a vat for dyeing.
b. dialect. A leaden milk-pan.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > equipment for food preparation > cooking vessel or pot > [noun] > other types of pot or pan
olla1535
pipkin1554
marmite1581
diet-pot1617
pipkinet1647
chocolate pot1676
gotch1691
lead1741
puchero1791
steamer1814
bake pot1822
kedgeree-pot1824
braising-pan1825
handi1847
craggan1880
yabba1889
sufuria1891
dixie1900
Revere1901
pressure cooker1914
pressure saucepan1940
li1945
wok1952
li ting1958
firepot1959
fondue pot1959
tian1978
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > dairy farming > [noun] > milking > milking-pail
milking paila1425
milk-pail1440
milking pot1511
piggin1554
whinnock1555
coga1568
gawn1688
leglen1725
lead1741
milk-bucket1806
pipkin1855
1741 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman May viii. 129 To improve Cream. To do this, take a Pint, or more, of Stroakings,..and divide it into several Pans, or Leads, or Kivers.
1808 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Devon viii. 232 Dairy utensils, consisting of leads, kettles, pans..&c.
1895 ‘Rosemary’ Under Chilterns ii. 69 Rose always scoured the great ‘leads’..and left no half-cleaned corners to taint the milk.
6.
a. A ‘bob’ or lump of lead suspended by a string to ascertain the depth of water; a sounding-lead. Phrases, to cast, heave the lead. to arm the lead: to fill the hollow in the lead with tallow in order to discover the nature of the bottom by the substances adhering (Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 1867 s.v. Arm). †Also, the leaden sinker of a net.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > weight or relative heaviness > [noun] > ponderable matter > that which is heavy or a heavy mass > lead as type of
leadc1440
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > navigational aids > [noun] > sounding-line or -rod > weight on sounding-line
plummetc1384
leadc1440
sounding-lead1485
sinking lead1648
blue pigeon1818
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > weight > [noun]
plumbc1450
plummet1577
leada1609
sinker1785
swan-shot1856
sinkstone1857
net sinker1865
net-weight1865
sink1865
bullet1867
block-shot1883
shotting1979
c1440 York Myst. ix. 199 I sall caste leede and loke þe space.
c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 1440 Cast a led, & In vs gyde.
a1609 J. Dennys Secrets of Angling (1613) i. xix. sig. B4 Then on that Linke hang Leads of euen waight.
1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 29 Heaue the lead.
1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 1187 Their leede ay..Might warne them.
1657 J. Trapp Comm. Psalms xxv. 1 The best heart is lumpish, and naturally beareth downward, as the poise of a clock, as the lead of a net.
a1665 K. Digby Jrnl. Voy. to Mediterranean (1868) 13 I sent my shalloppes out with leades to sound the depth.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine at Sounding Sounding with the hand-lead..is called heaving the lead by seamen.
1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy III. iv. 71 A man..lowering down the lead, sounded in seven fathoms.
1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack xxxv. 249 We ran through the Swin by the lead.
1860 Mercantile Marine Mag. 7 248 The lead used..was the ordinary hand-lead of 9 lbs. instead of the deep sea-lead of 28 to 32 lbs.
b. to swing the lead: to idle, to shirk; to malinger. slang. Hence in similar phrases and in combinations, as lead-swing n. and v. intransitive., lead-swinger n., lead-swinging n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > avoid > avoid duty, work, or exertion
feignc1300
lurk1551
slug1642
skulk1781
malinger1820
mike1838
shirk1853
slinker1880
scrimshank1882
pike1889
scow1901
spruce1916
to swing the lead1917
bludge1919
to dodge the column1919
skive1919
to screw off1943
to do a never1946
to fuck off1946
to dick off1948
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > [noun] > avoiding an action or condition > avoiding duty, work, or exertion > one who
skulkc1320
loundererc1425
old soldier1722
malingerer1785
skulker1785
shirker1799
shirk1818
slink1824
schemer1843
sconcer1843
scrimshanker1882
scrimshank1886
sooner1892
Weary Willie1896
slacker1898
slackster1901
sugarer1904
work-shy1904
gold brick1905
tired Tim (also Timothy)1906
lead-swinger1917
piker1917
gold-bricker1919
slinker1919
poler1938
skiver1941
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > [noun] > avoiding an action or condition > avoiding duty, work, or exertion
blanching1642
skulking1805
soldiering1840
malingery1841
malingering1861
old soldierism1866
old soldiering1867
scrimshanking1881
shirking1899
gold-bricking1918
lead-swinging1930
skive1958
skiving1958
scowing1959
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > [adjective] > that avoids or shuns > avoiding duty, work, or exertion
kid glove1856
malingering1862
scrimshanking1881
shirking1883
clock-watching1889
shirky1897
lead-swinging1930
skiving1959
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > [noun] > avoiding an action or condition > avoiding duty, work, or exertion > opportunity for or an act of
come-off1678
mike1825
shirk1863
gold-bricking1901
scrimshank1903
lead-swing1952
skive1958
skive1980
1917 To-Day 6 Jan. 243/3 It is evident that he had ‘swung the lead’ (using Army phrase) until he got his discharge.
1918 B. K. Adams Let. 25 Jan. in Amer. Spirit 71 Lead-swingers are those that stall along, doing as little as they possibly can, hoping the war will be over before they finish.
1918 Twenty-seconds' Echo 1 June The Swingers of the Lead.
1918 E. S. Farrow Dict. Mil. Terms Swinging the Lead, a slang expression among soldiers being the equivalent of telling the tale.
1919 War Slang in Athenæum 25 July 664/1 ‘To swing the lead’, to malinger, go sick, with the object of escaping an irksome duty.
1922 C. E. Montague Disenchantment iv. 56 Then grey hairs should be a lot of use to you..when you want to get swinging the lead.
1927 A. Brosnan At Number 15 i. 30 ‘If they wanted a three-man job done they had to put forty on to it to make sure it was done.’ ‘And so they did. That's organisation, that is. Of course, there was some lead-swingers.’
1927 Daily Express 2 Mar. 3/4 He said he..had been ‘swinging the lead’ for the purpose of getting a permanent pension.
1930 S. Beckett Whoroscope 1 The vile old Copernican lead-swinging son of a sutler!
1939 R. Campbell Flowering Rifle ii. 60 It was not we who lead-swung to the Pities, When half the loveliest of our ancient cities Were in the clouds rebuilt.
1940 J. B. Priestley Postscripts 70 A wary..old soldier, a lead-swinger, a dodger of the column.
1952 M. Allingham Tiger in Smoke iv. 77 He went sick... It was so hopeless, so damned silly and forlorn as a lead-swing that in the end he got away with it.
1957 A. Grimble Return to Islands ii. 32 Their number was not without its natural quota of cheerful leadswingers.
1968 Manch. Guardian Weekly 12 Sept. 9 Mr. Crossman..insisted that ‘lead swinging’ among the unemployed was confined to a very small minority.
1969 Daily Tel. 8 Jan. 26/1 Overall absenteeism in the coal~fields is running slightly higher than last year... Out of this total, 4·66 per cent. is classified as voluntary absenteeism (‘lead-swinging’).
1972 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 12 Feb. 4/1 The mayor of Victoria accuses the four Greater Victoria members of the legislature of lead-swinging.
1973 Daily Tel. 29 Aug. 6/3 ‘It would soon put a stop to lead-swingers who take a few days off to paint the house or watch cricket,’ the doctor added.
7. plural.
a. The sheets or strips of lead used to cover a roof; often collective for a lead flat, a lead roof, †occasionally construed as singular.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > roof > [noun] > roof of other materials
leads1578
pantile roof1703
scale-roof1862
lead-flat1875
zinc roof1883
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > lead > types of > for roofing
leads1578
moss1703
thack-lead1827
1578–9 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) I. 538 Mending the leddes over the librarie chambers.
1588 L. Andrewes Serm. at Spital (1641) 5 He looketh downe on his brethren, as if he stood on the top of a Leads.
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 261 A Goodly Leads upon the Top, railed with Statua's interposed.
a1635 R. Corbet Iter Boreale in Certain Elegant Poems (1647) 5 Gardens cover howses there like leades.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture I. 78 Leads or Terrasses from whence the Soldiers may be molested with stones or darts.
1761 C. Johnstone Chrysal (ed. 2) I. ii. xviii. 231 A cat..whom she used to meet in the evenings, upon the leads of the house.
1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet II. xiii. 308 Trumbull..clambered out upon the leads.
1873 W. H. Dixon Hist. Two Queens II. vii. vi. 42 A blare of trumpets from the leads told every one..that [etc.].
b. The lead frames of the panes in lattice or stained glass windows.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > parts of windows > [noun] > glazing or dividing bar
monial1332
sodlet1332
stay-bar1399
transom1502
mullion1556
munnion1571
calm1577
leading1597
window bar1612
stroke1684
came1688
leads1705
saddle-bar?1733
transom-shaft1813
sash bar1837
baluster1844
baluster column1844
supermonial1846
supermullion1846
astragal1858
wagtail1940
1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 8 Nov. (O.H.S.) I. 68 After the Examination of the Books, & a slight view of the Leads.
1885 F. Miller Glass-painting vii. 69 It gives the effect of weakness to see large pieces of glass leaded with narrow leads.
8. Printing. A thin strip of type-metal or brass, less than type-high, of varying thickness and length, used in type-composition to separate lines; before 1800 known as space-line.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > composing equipment > [noun] > spacing material > that separates lines
lead1808
1808 C. Stower Printer's Gram. 515 Leads, 4 to a pica, per pound, 1s. 10d.
1824 J. Johnson Typographia II. 125 All measures are made to pica m's, and all leads are cast to m's of the above body.
1848 J. Craig New Universal Dict. Leads or space lines.
1889 Harper's Mag. Apr. 819/1 A newspaper which..avoids double leads..and all forms of typographical hysteria.
9. In the knitting-machine: The lead or tin socket holding the shanks of one or more needles.
ΚΠ
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 650 In order to fit the needles for the frame, they are now cast into the tin sockets, or leads as they are called by the workmen.
Compounds
C1. Simple attributive passing into adj. Made (wholly or partly) of lead, consisting of lead.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [adjective] > of or relating to lead > made of
leadenc1000
lead1379
1379 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 103 Et de j Ledepan.
1422 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 16 Yat the lede pype and the shelfs be the wyfe's of Symond of Stele.
1811 W. Scott Misc. Prose Wks. (1870) IV. 273 The copies had hung on the bookseller's hands as heavy as a pile of lead bullets.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 362 Lead pipes are sometimes cast in an iron mould, made in two halves.
1868 C. B. Norton & W. J. Valentine Rep. to Govt. U.S. on Munitions of War at Paris Universal Exhib. 1867 App. 286 These [Gatling] guns discharge half-pound solid lead-balls.
C2. General combinations:
a. General attributive.† lead-groove n. Obsolete
lead-colour n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > grey or greyness > [noun] > lead grey
leadenness1611
lead-colour1658
1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 909 Poysoned Honey..staines the honey-comb with a Kinde of Lead-colour.
1823 P. Nicholson New Pract. Builder 416 Of the Compound Colours, Lead colour is of indigo and white.
lead-glaze n.
ΚΠ
1842 E. A. Parnell Elements Chem. Anal. (1845) 276 A porcelain bason having a lead glaze.
lead-grain n.
ΚΠ
a1728 J. Woodward Attempt Nat. Hist. Fossils Eng. (1729) i. 207 Lead-Grains so pure as nearly to approach the Fineness of Virgin Lead.
ΚΠ
c1750 J. Nelson Jrnl. (1836) 84 A great company of men that worked in the lead-groves.
lead-mine n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places where raw materials are extracted > mine > [noun] > lead-mine
lead-mine1653
1653 E. Manlove (title) The Liberties and Cvstomes of the Lead-Mines.
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. i. iii. sig. M4 (heading) Wandring..among cover'd Lead Mines that he knew not of.
lead-miner n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > miner > [noun] > one who mines metals > lead-miner
lead-mana1637
lead-miner1761
badger1833
1761 J. Wesley Jrnl. 9 June Most of the men are lead-miners.
lead-ore n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > ore > [noun] > metal ore > lead ore
plumbago1617
potter's ore1647
bouse1653
lead-ore1653
plumbary1657
potter's lead1670
galena1671
blue lead1728
alquifou1756
lead glance1811
galenite1868
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > mineral material > ore > [noun] > lead-ore
lead-ore1653
1653 E. Manlove Liberties & Customes Lead-mines Derby 4 If any..there Lead-oar may get.
1661 R. Boyle Two Ess. Unsuccessfulness Exper. i, in Certain Physiol. Ess. 46 So unlike common Lead Oar, that the workmen upon that account are pleased to call it Steel-Oar.
1854 E. Ronalds & T. Richardson Knapp's Chem. Technol. (ed. 2) I. 108 More adapted for smelting some lead-ores than the others.
lead-slag n.
ΚΠ
1864 H. Watts Dict. Chem. II. 523 Analyses of Lead-slags from Blast Furnace.
lead-vein n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > [noun] > vein > vein of ore > of specific ore
primgap1653
lead-veina1728
reef1852
a1728 J. Woodward Attempt Nat. Hist. Fossils Eng. (1729) i. 159 Out of a Lead-Vein..in Wales.
1874 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 313 Lead-veins, rich in silver.
b. Objective.
lead-burner n.
ΚΠ
1894 Daily News 6 Sept. 6/7 M—— W——, lead burner, brother of the deceased, said [etc.].
lead-carving n.
ΚΠ
1748 Lady Luxborough Let. 10 Apr. in Lett. to W. Shenstone (1775) 16 The present fashion at London, is all lead carving.
lead-smelting adj. attributive.
ΚΠ
1877 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining p. viii Lead-smelting blast-furnaces.
1877 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 296 Lead-smelting ores can be produced.
c. Obj. genitive.
lead-free adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [adjective] > of or relating to lead > free of
lead-free1946
1946Lead-free [see lead glass n. at Compounds 3a].
1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 16 Feb. (Suppl.) 36/2 Sow Feeder..painted [with] one coat lead-free paint.
1970 Guardian 13 Apr. 13/4 Lead-free petrol.
1973 Country Life 29 Mar. 854/1 Modifications were also made to the engine to enable it to run on lead-free fuels.
d. Instrumental.
lead-covered adj.
ΚΠ
1891 R. Kipling Light that Failed xiii. 253 A hall at the foot of some lead-covered stairs.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 22 Apr. 8/3 Over twenty miles of lead-covered cables have been laid in the grounds.
lead-lapped adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > types of burial or entombment > [adjective] > in specific container
urned1631
urnal1658
lead-lapped1830
1830 W. Scott Doom of Devorgoil i. i. 13 The dry bones of lead-lapp'd ancestors.
lead-lined adj.
ΚΠ
1828 J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner 120 Cartridges..packed in Lead-lined Barrels and Cases.
1895 E. A. Parkes Care Health 25 Lead-lined cisterns are, on the whole, better avoided.
lead-ruled adj.
ΚΠ
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems xxii. 8 The parchment-case Lead-ruled.
lead-sheathed adj.
ΚΠ
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions 8 Lead-sheathed Ships.
1948 G. V. Galwey Lift & Drop vi. 137 The leads to the switchgear were buried. They were lead-sheathed.
e. Parasynthetic.
lead-coloured adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > grey or greyness > [adjective] > lead grey
leadenc1386
wana1398
leadish1398
leady1398
plumby1486
plumbine1597
leaden-coloured1598
lead-coloured1611
plumbean1656
plumbeous1658
lead-grey1837
leaden-hued1877
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Plombasse,..lead coloured.
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan III. 378 Spanish brown, or lead coloured roofs.
lead-lidded adj.
ΚΠ
1848 G. H. Boker Calaynos iii. ii, in Plays & Poems (1856) Robs the lead-lidded god of many an hour.
f. Similative, esp. with adjectives of colour.
lead-blue adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > blue or blueness > [adjective] > dark blue
blewebis1330
sloe-blue1795
Oxford blue1856
navy blue1859
coal blue1861
marine blue1873
lead-blue1882
navy1896
1882–4 Yarrell's Brit. Birds (ed. 4) III. 505 Legs and toes pale blue, becoming lead-blue a few days after death.
lead-brown adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > brown or brownness > [adjective] > greyish brown
mud-coloured1772
smoke-brown1807
mud colour1818
lead-brown1897
nutmeg1965
1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 90 A slope of smooth and lead-brown slime.
lead-grey adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > grey or greyness > [adjective] > lead grey
leadenc1386
wana1398
leadish1398
leady1398
plumby1486
plumbine1597
leaden-coloured1598
lead-coloured1611
plumbean1656
plumbeous1658
lead-grey1837
leaden-hued1877
1837 P. H. Gosse Jrnl. in E. Gosse Life P. H. Gosse (1890) 107 The insects were..of a lead-grey colour.
g.
lead-like adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > weight or relative heaviness > [adverb]
heavyc1000
heavilyc1320
sadlya1400
ponderouslyc1500
lead-like1816
lumpishly1860
leadenly1879
the world > matter > properties of materials > weight or relative heaviness > [adjective] > heavy
heavyc1000
unlightc1330
sada1375
chargeousa1382
lumpinga1400
ponderousa1400
weighingc1400
poisant1477
peisant1483
wieldlya1500
weighty1500
peiseda1522
burdenous1529
weightful1530
grave1570
leaden1578
plumbeousa1586
wieldy1592
peisy1599
well-weighing?1615
lead-like1816
hefty1867
1816 Ld. Byron Siege of Corinth xiii. 20 The mail weighed lead-like on his breast.
1842 Ld. Tennyson St. Simeon Stylites in Poems (new ed.) II. 54 Those lead-like tons of sin.
C3.
a. Special combinations: † lead-dust n. Obsolete (see quot.).† lead foam n. Obsolete the oxide skimmed from the surface of molten lead.† lead-house n. Obsolete ? a plumber's shop.† lead-lath n. Obsolete ? a batten for laying a leaden roof upon.† lead-lustre n. Obsolete lead oxide used as a glaze. † lead-mall n. Obsolete ? a leaden mallet or a mallet for beating lead. † lead-pen n. Obsolete ? a metallic pencil for ruling lines. † lead-pound n. Obsolete a measure of weight. † lead-walling n. Salt-making Obsolete (see quot.).
lead accumulator n. a lead-acid cell or battery.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > galvanism, voltaism > [noun] > lead-acid cell or battery
lead cell1897
lead accumulator1903
1903 Chem. News 17 July 34/2 Dr. Lehfeldt's paper on ‘The Total and Free Energy of the Lead Accumulator’ was taken as read.
1928 J. T. Crennell & F. M. Lea Alkaline Accumulators i. 5 The lead accumulator suffers from certain inherent defects of which the most important are a rather large weight for a given capacity, [etc.].
1971 G. F. Liptrot Mod. Inorg. Chem. xviii. 242 The voltage supplied by the lead accumulator is just in excess of 2 volts.
lead-acid adj. applied to a secondary cell or battery in which the anode is a plate or grid of lead (or lead alloy) coated with lead dioxide, the cathode is a similar plate coated with spongy lead, and both are immersed in dilute sulphuric acid.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > galvanism, voltaism > [adjective] > relating to lead-acid
Planté1881
lead-acid1926
1926 W. S. Ibbetson Accumulator Charging iii. 26 Fig. 7 illustrates the actions and results of charging and discharging a simple lead acid cell.
1936 Motor Man. (ed. 29) iv. 78 The lead-acid type [of battery] is that most general as its cost is much lower.
1972 Dry Cells, Batteries & Accumulators iii. 36 Lead-acid accumulators have a good life in terms of charge/discharge cycles.
1974 Railway Mag. Apr. 176/2 The locomotive interior is taken up by no less than 160 lead-acid battery cells, giving a 300V supply.
lead-arming n. the tallow used for ‘arming’ a lead (see 6).
lead-ash n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > materials produced from metalworking > [noun] > slag or scoria > of specific metals
lead-ashes1515
quittor1671
bottom1852
buckshot-cinder1881
lead-ash1882
red mud1936
1882 Ogilvie's Imperial Dict. (new ed.) Lead ash, the slag of lead.
lead-ashes n. litharge.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > materials produced from metalworking > [noun] > slag or scoria > of specific metals
lead-ashes1515
quittor1671
bottom1852
buckshot-cinder1881
lead-ash1882
red mud1936
1515 in E. Hobhouse Churchwardens' Accts. (1890) 68 For ye ledde haxyn..iiiis. iiiid.
1738 G. Smith tr. Laboratory iii. 96 Take Lead Ashes one pound.
Categories »
lead-back n. U.S. the American dunlin ( Cent. Dict.).
lead balloon n. a failure, an unsuccessful venture.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > [noun] > one who or that which is unsuccessful > that which is a failure
fizzle1846
fiasco1855
frost1874
blue duck1889
wash-out1902
blowout1925
turkey1927
flopperoo1936
stiff1937
muck-up1942
bomb1954
fizzer1957
lead balloon1960
damp squib1963
bummer1967
downer1976
1960 H. Wentworth & S. B. Flexner Dict. Amer. Slang 314/2 Lead balloon, a failure; a plan, joke, action or the like that elicits no favorable response; a flop; anything that lays an egg.
1962 L. Deighton Ipcress File xxv. 158 With this boy it went over like a lead balloon.
1970 Sunday Times 19 Apr. 31/3 What the Dickens? was a lead balloon literary quiz wherein the experts showed only how little they knew.
lead-bath n. (a) the mass of melted lead in a lead-furnace; (b) the molten lead with which gold and silver ores are melted before cupellation.
ΚΠ
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 754 The smelter throws a shovelful of small coal or coke cinder upon the lead bath.
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Lead-bath.
lead bronze n. bronze containing lead, which is used in bearings.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > alloy > [noun] > bronze > types of
gunmetal1541
white bronze1834
findrinny1839
phosphor-bronze1875
plastic bronze1897
sentoku1902
lead bronze1937
1937 H. N. Bassett Bearing Metals & Alloys viii. 296 Under the general title of lead bronzes are included..the copper-tin-lead alloys..and the so-called ‘tin-free’ bronzes.
1951 Engineering 6 July 1/3 The main and big~end bearings are all fitted with steel shells, lined with lead-bronze.
1967 Jane's Surface Skimmer Syst. 1967–8 123/2 Crankshaft... Lead-bronze bearings with steel cups.
lead bullion n. a mixture of lead and other heavy metals obtained as an intermediate product in the extraction of lead.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > lead > lead in specific form
base bulliona1593
web lead1686
pig lead1736
lead bullion1905
lead wool1908
1905 A. H. Low Techn. Methods Ore Anal. viii. 56 The determination of bismuth in impure lead or lead bullion may be carried out on the same lines as described for refined lead.
1954 W. H. Dennis Metall. Non-ferrous Metals iv. 242 The crude lead bullion may contain up to 4 per cent of these reduced metallics.
1963 Times 22 Apr. p. iv/4 This plant is producing about 40,000 tons of good ordinary brand zinc annually together with lead bullion and by-product cadmium and sulphuric acid.
lead-burn v. (transitive) to weld (pieces of lead).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > weld > with specific technique
seam1703
jump1864
tack1887
spot weld1908
seam-weld1917
tack weld1919
lead-burn1937
projection-weld1950
micro-weld1965
1937 Archit. Rev. 31 270 (caption) After casting the flat sheets [of lead] are bent round and the joint lead-burned to form the point.
lead burning n. the welding of lead.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [noun] > welding > types of
butt welding1878
lead burning1886
arc welding1890
thermite process1905
thermite welding1906
resistance welding1908
spot welding1908
seam welding1917
fusion welding1918
projection welding1918
stud welding1918
metal arc welding1926
pressure welding1926
metallic arc welding1927
flash-butt welding1933
flash welding1933
stitch welding1934
rightward welding1936
block welding1943
submerged-arc welding1945
friction welding1946
T.I.G.1960
microwelding1962
1886 D. Salomons Managem. Accumulators 14 It is frequently necessary to perform the operation of soldering or lead burning.
1937 Archit. Rev. 31 272/2 Leadburning is a variety of welding. As a process it has been known for centuries, but only since the invention of the gas welding flame have its possibilities been fully exploited.
1963 H. R. Clauser Encycl. Engin. Materials 368/2 Lead welding, commonly called lead burning, produces a true weld by fusing the parts together without the addition of any different material.
lead cell n. a lead-acid cell.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > galvanism, voltaism > [noun] > lead-acid cell or battery
lead cell1897
lead accumulator1903
1897 Physical Rev. 4 353 We owe the discovery of the lead cell to Planté.
1928 J. T. Crennell & F. M. Lea Alkaline Accumulators ix. 121 The energy, or watt-hour, efficiency of alkaline cells is about 50–55 per cent., as compared with 75 per cent. for lead cells.
lead chamber n. a large reaction vessel made of welded sheet lead which is used in the manufacture of sulphuric acid from sulphur dioxide, air, and steam using oxides of nitrogen as catalysts; so lead chamber process.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > vessels for other specific purposes > [noun] > for making sulphuric acid
lead chamber1867
Gay-Lussac tower1873
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical substances > acids > [noun] > acids-named > containing sulphur > sulphuric acid > manufacturing process
lead chamber process1867
1867 Chem. News 5 July 12/1 (heading) Lead-chamber process.
1867 Chem. News 5 July 12/1 This explains the loss of nitric acid in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, which always takes place when the sulphuric acid in the lead-chamber is below the normal strength.
1879 G. Lunge Sulphuric Acid I. 261 That apparatus..in which now-a-days all sulphuric acid, except the Nordhausen oil of vitriol, is made, viz. the lead chamber.
1909 L. Kahlenberg Outl. Chem. xiii. 198 There are commonly three lead chambers, so connected that the gases enter the top of each and pass out at the bottom.
1946 J. R. Partington Gen. & Inorg. Chem. xxiv. 710 The lead chamber plant..consists of (i) pyrites (or sulphur) burners, (ii) a dust separator.., (iii) a nitre oven.., (iv) a Glover tower, (v) a series of lead chambers with arrangements for supplying steam or water spray, and (vi) a Gay-Lussac tower.
1969 H. T. Evans tr. G. Hägg Gen. & Inorg. Chem. xxi. 529 The reaction takes place in reaction chambers, formerly lead chambers, that is, large lead-lined rooms, but now most often of other types.
1973 R. W. Thomas & P. J. Farago Industr. Chem. viii. 133 The lead-chamber process is by no means obsolete.., and is likely to remain in operation for the production of acid not exceeding 78 per cent in concentration..and where high purity is not essential.
lead-comb n. a comb made of lead, used for the purpose of darkening the hair.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > implements used in styling the hair > [noun] > comb > for darkening the hair
black lead comba1627
lead-comb1715
1715 S. Garth Claremont 96 Nor yet lead-comb was on the toilet plac'd.
lead crystal n. [crystal n. 4a] = lead glass n. below.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > glass and glass-like materials > [noun] > glass > lead glass
French paste1754
lead glass1856
lead crystal1902
1902 J. D. Everett & A. Everett tr. H. Hovestadt Jena Glass x. 364 Foerster recalls the fact that the resisting power of lead crystal glass to acids is increased by long-continued exposure to acids. Were it otherwise, the use of this material for wine glasses would long ago have been given up.
1968 Canad. Antiques Collector Dec. 19/2 When lead crystal came into fashion about 1800, it was possible to cut the glass in glittering facets.
1969 R. F. Lang tr. F. A. Henglein Chem. Technol. 835 Lead crystal contains lead (instead of Ca) and potassium and has high light refraction; it is much used in colored glasses.
ΚΠ
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Lead Lead-Dust, a Preparation used by the Potters, made by throwing Charcoal-Dust in melted Lead, and stirring them a long time together.
lead-eater n. dialect (see quot. 1855).
ΚΠ
1788–9 G. S. Howard New Royal Encycl. (at cited word) Caoutchouc in natural history..a very elastic resin..Very useful for erasing the strokes of black lead pencils, and is popularly called rubber, and lead-eater.
1855 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Yorks. Words 102 Lead-eater, Indian-rubber, for removing pencil marks on paper.
lead-flat n. (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > roof > [noun] > roof of other materials
leads1578
pantile roof1703
scale-roof1862
lead-flat1875
zinc roof1883
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1270/1 Lead-flat, a level roof consisting of sheet-lead laid on boarding and joists.
1907 W. De Morgan Alice-for-Short xxv. 259 Charles remembers the lead-flat sunk in the roof.
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 491/2 Lead-flat, a flat roof formed of sheet-lead laid on boarding and joists.
ΚΠ
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Leade fome or spume, molybditis.
lead-foot adj. = leaden-footed adj. at leaden adj. Compounds 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adjective] > moving slowly
slowa1398
slow-movingc1450
slow-bellied1554
lazya1568
slow-footed1587
slow-paced1594
leaden-footed1596
snaily1596
snail-paced1597
dragglinga1599
leaden-heeled1598
ambling1600
slow-foot1607
sluggisha1616
slow-pacing1616
tortoise-paced1623
slow-going1634
leaden-stepping1645
tardigradous1652
tardigrade1656
snail-crawleda1658
dawdling1773
loitering1791–2
slow-stepping1793
creepy1794
lugging1816
tortoise-footed1818
crawling1820
creepy-crawly1858
slowing1877
lead-foot1896
soodling1951
1896 K. Tynan Lover's Breast-knot 15 Lead-foot, slow, Did the day round to evening-flame?
lead glance n. [= Dutch loodglans] galena.
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the world > the earth > minerals > ore > [noun] > metal ore > lead ore
plumbago1617
potter's ore1647
bouse1653
lead-ore1653
plumbary1657
potter's lead1670
galena1671
blue lead1728
alquifou1756
lead glance1811
galenite1868
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > sulphides and related minerals > [noun] > galena group > lead sulphide
plumbago1617
plumbary1657
galena1671
burnt lead1728
slickenside1768
lead glance1811
galenite1868
1811 J. Taylor Remarks Present State Devon in T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (new ed.) p. xv Lead is found in the state of galena or lead glance.
1843 J. E. Portlock Rep. Geol. Londonderry 181 Lead glance is also occasionally, but not frequently met with, in small masses.
lead glass n. glass containing a substantial proportion of lead oxide.
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > glass and glass-like materials > [noun] > glass > lead glass
French paste1754
lead glass1856
lead crystal1902
1830 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 120 43 The tri-borate of lead glass is almost as colourless as good flint glass.]
1856 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. II. xi. 764 Lead glass has..the inconvenience of being readily scratched.
1930 W. A. Thorpe in Connoisseur Oct. 226/2 English lead-glass was peculiarly apt for cut decoration.
1946 Nature 26 Oct. 582/1 Colouring oxides such as iron, copper, etc., all produce more intense colours in heavy lead glasses than in ordinary lead-free glasses.
1965 C. S. G. Phillips & R. J. P. Williams Inorg. Chem. I. xiv. 546 Special glasses are made by adding other oxides: for example, lead glasses have a high refractive index and are used in crystal and flint glass.
lead-glaze n. Pottery a glaze containing lead oxide; so lead-glazed adj., lead-glazier, lead-glazing n.
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society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > producer > potter > [noun] > involved in specific process
glazer1839
slapper1860
mould-runner1863
lathe-treader1865
jollier?1881
tower1894
ground-layer1898
placer1898
lead-glazier1899
glazier1900
thimble-picker1901
jiggerer1921
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > clay compositions > baked clay > pottery or ceramics > [adjective] > glazed in specific way
crazed1874
plumbeous1875
lustred1893
lead-glazed1899
tin-glazed1904
faienced1912
smear-glazed1963
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > painting or coating materials > [noun] > glaze > for ceramics or pottery > types of
steel lustre1829
moonlight lustre1837
stone-oil1838
silver lustre1845
porcelain enamel1852
marzacotto1873
overglaze1880
under-glaze1882
coperta1885
tiger's-eye1893
tin-glaze1897
hare's fur1899
lead-glaze1899
tin-enamel1900
rouge flambé1902
Sunderland lustre1903
transmutation glaze1904
Mohammedan blue1905
peach bloom1937
sang-de-bœuf1957
lead-lustre-
society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > pottery-making or ceramics > [noun] > glazing > with lead
lead-glazing1962
1899 Westm. Gaz. 27 Mar. 6/2 There seems no reason..why..the operatives should still continue to be exposed to the evils which the use of lead-glaze entails.
1901 Daily News 3 Dec. 3/7 He states that there is no difference now in price between the lead glazed and leadless glazed ware.
1907 Installation News Sept. 12/1 All interiors are of the best English porcelain, lead glazed and fitted with brass connection bars.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 23 Nov. 9/3 The deceased came under his notice twelve years ago, when he was a lead-glazier.
1962 H. R. Loyn Anglo-Saxon Eng. iii. 110 The so-called Stamford ware, utilizing a type of lead-glazing that may have originated in the Netherlands, appears to have spread from East Anglia.
1968 J. Arnold Shell Bk. Country Crafts 231 Medieval pottery was mainly in the form of lead-glazed earthenware..and was known as faience or majolica.
1969 Canad. Antiques Collector Jan. 28/3 Lead and lustre glazes came early from the Near East.
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1424 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 152 Item Ricardo Horner circa ledhows a festo Annunciacionis Beatæ Mariæ usque ad Pascha per xv dies et di… 7s 9d.
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1466 Contract 25 June in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) III. 93 The said Roofe shal haue sufficient leedlathis of herty ooke sufficiently dried.
lead-light n. a window in which small panes are fixed in leaden cames, also attributive.
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society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > types of window > [noun] > lattice or leaded window
trellis-window1422
lattice-window1515
lead-light1844
1844 Catholic Weekly Instructor 103 Fixing a small copper gutter at the bottom of each lead-light.
1895 Jrnl. Royal Inst. Brit. Archit. 14 Mar. 350 All lead-light windows should have iron casements.
lead-line n. (a) a sounding-lead or plumb-line; (b) a line loaded with leaden weights, running along the bottom of a net; (c) a bluish grey line along the gums at their junction with the teeth, indicating lead-poisoning; (d) the narrow strip of lead between two pieces of stained glass; a came.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > navigational aids > [noun] > sounding-line or -rod
sounding-line1336
plumbc1425
lead-line1485
handline1535
bolye1552
fathom line1598
plumb line1648
sounda1653
hand lead1669
plumbing line1671
plumbing rope1693
sounder1811
sea-line1828
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > ornamental glass-work > [noun] > glass-colouring > glass-staining > stained glass > part of window
jewel1613
panel1873
lead-line1907
1485 in M. Oppenheim Naval Accts. & Inventories Henry VII (1896) 51 Leede lynes..j.
1848 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 3) 248 Deeper than ever leadline went.
1879 St. George's Hosp. Rep. 9 100 The tobacconist had a ‘lead line’ on the gums.
1907 W. De Morgan Alice-for-Short xxvii. 283 I'll lend you a hand over the lead-lines.
1973 M. Harrison & B. Waters Burne-Jones iv. 50 All the designers had to supply were the cartoons, which were quite often bold drawings without indication of lead lines.
lead-line v. (transitive) to put the lead-lines in (stained glass work).
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > ornamental glass-work > [verb (transitive)] > colour > put lead lines in stained glass
lead-line1907
1907 W. De Morgan Alice-for-Short xii. 136 It was Pope's man, Buttivant, who lead-lines up all the windows.
Thesaurus »
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1485 in M. Oppenheim Naval Accts. & Inventories Henry VII (1896) 39 Lede malles feble..xiiij.
lead-man n. (a) a dealer in lead; (b) a lead-miner.
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society > trade and finance > trader > traders or dealers in specific articles > [noun] > in metal
lead-man1497
metal man1566
metal monger1576
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > miner > [noun] > one who mines metals > lead-miner
lead-mana1637
lead-miner1761
badger1833
1497 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) I. 350 Item, to the lede man, making ledin pellokkis.
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 208 A Great Colliar, A Great Corne-Master, a Great Lead-man.
a1637 B. Jonson Kings Entertainm. at Welbeck sig. Oo1v in Wks. (1640) III Such a light, and metall'd Dance Saw you never yet in France, And by Lead-men, for the nonce, That turne round like grindlestones.
1889 Times 28 Nov. 5/6 Relaying a whole sheet of lead for a single crack is doubtless delightful to the leadmen.
lead-marcasite n. ? zinc blende (see quot.).
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a1728 J. Woodward Attempt Nat. Hist. Fossils Eng. (1729) i. 183 A Lead-Marcasite..much like the Potters Lead-Ore..The Miners call this Mock-Ore, Mock-Lead, Wild-Lead, and Blinde.
lead-mill n. (a) an establishment for producing milled or sheet lead; (b) (see quot. 1864).
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society > occupation and work > workplace > places for working with specific materials > place for working with metal > [noun] > rolling-mill
rolling mill1616
plate mill1671
steel mill1858
roller shop1859
lead-mill1863
sheet-mill1884
1863 P. Barry Dockyard Econ. 109 Chatham has a monopoly of the dockyard lead manufacture. During the year the lead-mill turned out 21,852 cwt. 1 qr. 21 lb.
1864 P. A. Nuttall Craig's New Universal Dict. Suppl. Lead-mill, a circular plate of lead used by the lapidary for grinding or roughing.
lead-nail n. (mostlyplural) a nail used to fasten a sheet of lead on a roof.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > nail > roofing nails
roof nail1284
shingle-nail1303
spoon-nailc1310
tile-pin1338
lead-nail1355
spoon-brod1361
stone-brod1363
stone-nail1469
slate-pin1579
shank1716
slate-peg1875
slate-nail1880
1355 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 92 In ccc lednayle emp. 12d.
1476–7 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 95 Sol. pro iiijc ledenale..12d.
1536–7 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1901) III. 698 100 leydnall' 5d.
1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale Leäd-nails.
lead-ochre n. = massicot n.
lead-paper n. a test-paper treated with a preparation of lead.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical tests > indicators > [noun] > test papers
litmus paper1803
turmeric paper1806
test-paper1827
georgina paper1843
ozone paper1861
ozone test paper1872
turmeric test-paper1880
lead-paper1890
tetra-paper1890
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > paper > [noun] > coated papers
porcelain paper1829
wax-paper1844
silver paper1875
lead-paper1890
tar-paper1891
baryta paper1900
coated paper1902
flint paper1916
everdamp1922
silver-foil1944
1890 J. Cagney tr. R. von Jaksch Clin. Diagnosis v. 100 If hydrochloric acid be present..the lead-paper will be stained brown or black.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. xvii. [Ithaca] 628 A crinkled leadpaper bag.
1952 M. Allingham Tiger in Smoke vi. 108 The final covering was a piece of lead paper off a tobacco package.
lead-papered adj. covered with or containing lead-paper.
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > paper > [adjective] > covered with paper > of specific kind
lead-papered1922
wallpapered1956
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. v. [Lotus Eaters] 68 He..read the legends of leadpapered packets.
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society > communication > writing > writing materials > writing instrument > [noun] > lead pen or pencil
plummet?1440
black lead?a1560
black lead pen1612
black lead pencil1660
lead-pen1682
red lead pen1682
red lead pencil1686
1682 J. Wilding Acct. Bk. in C. R. L. Fletcher Collectanea (1885) I. 255 For Paper, Inkhorne, and Lead pen..00 01 05.
1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. xxv. 203 He with a White Lead Pen..drew a..Number of..Points.
lead-pencil n. a pencil of graphite, often enclosed in cedar or other wood.
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society > communication > writing > writing materials > writing instrument > [noun] > pencil > lead pencil
lead-pencil1688
keelivine1808
wad-pencil1825
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. iii. 144/2 Black and red Lead Pencils.
1704 London Gaz. No. 4044/1 A Letter..written on Horseback with a Lead-Pencil.
1862 R. W. Emerson Thoreau in Atlantic Monthly Aug. 239/1 A manufacturer of lead-pencils.
lead-plant n. U.S. a shrub ( Amorpha canescens) found in the west of the Mississippi valley, and believed to indicate the presence of lead ore.
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > non-British shrubs > [noun] > North-American
wild tea1728
bastard indigo1730
mountain heath1731
groundsel-tree1736
amorpha1751
buttonbush1754
moosewood1778
pipestem wood1791
modesty1809
sand myrtle1814
wicopy1823
lead-plant1833
false indigo1841
sleek-leaf1845
arrow weed1848
rabbit bush1852
ribbonwood1860
rabbit brush1877
sea myrtle1883
pencil tree1884
tar-bush1884
ocean spray1906
1833 A. Eaton Man. Bot. (ed. 6) ii. 15 Amorpha..canescens..lead plant... Somewhat woody... Galena.
1847 J. W. Abert in W. H. Emory Notes Mil. Reconnaissance (1848) 399 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (30th Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Exec. Doc. 41) IV The lead plant, or tea plant..is in some places so abundant as to displace almost every other herb.
1939 National Geographic Mag. Aug. 220/1 Chief among the peas is a group of close relatives: lead plant,..prairie clovers, together with indigo plant.
lead-plaster n. = diachylon n.
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1865Lead-plaster [see lead-soap n.].
lead poisoning n. poisoning (acute or chronic) by the introduction of lead into the system.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders caused by poisons > [noun] > by lead
lead-colic1774
lead-distemper1774
lead-encephalopathy1774
lead-palsy1774
lead poisoning1841
plumbism1842
saturnism1848
1841–2 T. D. Mitchell in Western & Southern Med. Recorder (Lexington, Kentucky) I. 145 (title) Practical notes on lead poisoning.
1876 J. S. Bristowe Treat. Theory & Pract. Med. ii. iv. 611 Chronic lead-poisoning.
1972 National Observer (U.S.) 27 May 10/1 The American Smelting and Refining Co. of New Jersey was accused in a civil suit of unduly polluting the air and environment with its huge smelters here and of causing lead poisoning in at least 135 children.
lead-pot n. a pot or crucible for melting lead.
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the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > [noun] > unit or denomination of weight > pound > pound of specific substance or system
lead-pound13..
Tower pound1469
tron-pound1683
Easterling pound1821
13.. Measures of Weight in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 70 Sex waxpunde makiet .j. leedpound.
lead ratio n. the ratio, in a sample of rock, of the quantity of lead (or a lead isotope) to the quantity of its radioactive parents uranium and thorium (or an appropriate isotope of one of these elements), from which the age of the sample may be determined.
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the world > the earth > earth sciences > geology > [noun] > dating > ratio
lead ratio1920
1920 Discovery Apr. 111/2 It is of course obvious that, if a mineral is altered, it has suffered chemical changes whereby the normal lead ratio is upset, for either introduction or elimination of lead may have taken place.
1920 Discovery Apr. 112/1 In some cases the lead-ratio can be used..for determining the geological position of rocks which yield their age to no other method of investigation.
1946 F. E. Zeuner Dating Past x. 325 In practice, the analyst measures the total amount of lead present, and the expression Pbtotal/(U + 0·36 Th), accounting for the presence of both uranium and thorium, is the one which has to be determined in every case. It is called the ‘lead-ratio’.
lead-reeve n. (see quot.).
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1687 Laws & Customs Miners Forrest of Dean in J. Collinson Hist. & Antiq. Somerset (1791) II. 117 Any miner who finds himself aggrieved complains to an officer called the Led reeve.
lead region n. a region in which lead ores occur.
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1847 C. Lanman Summer in Wilderness vi. 41 The lead region of the Mississippi occupies not far from one hundred square miles.
lead-sinker n. (see quot. 1875).
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1829 S. Glover Hist. County of Derby I. 242 The improvement (on the stocking-frame)..consisted in applying the lead-sinkers, which are still in use.
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Lead-Sinker (Knitting-machine), one of the devices which alternate with the jack~sinkers in the depression of the loops between the needles.
lead-soap n. (see quot.).
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1865 H. Watts Dict. Chem. III. 564 Lead-soaps, lead-salts of the fat-acids. Common lead-plaster is a preparation of this kind.
lead-spar n. = anglesite n. or cerussite n.
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1821 R. Jameson Man. Mineral. 85 Accompanied with galena or lead-glance, and lead-spars.
lead-sugar n. (see quot.).
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1852 tr. J. J. Seidel Organ & its Constr. 122 The oxygen contained in the atmosphere is imparted to bad brass, and produces what is called lead-sugar..which is eagerly sought and consumed by mice.
lead-tin adj. containing lead and tin; also elliptical, a lead-tin alloy.
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > alloy > [noun] > other alloys of tin and lead
silver lead1601
calin1751
pipe metal1756
spotted metal1850
Wood1860
lead-tin1889
1889 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 55 677 The first alloys experimented on were the lead-tin alloys.
1890 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 58 336 The two alloys always correspond with two cognate points on the solubility curves of zinc in lead-tin, and of lead in zinc-tin.
1928 H. H. Cowley Mod. Electr. Wiring iv. 54 Either copper or lead-tin alloy is generally employed for ordinary wire fuses.
1931 G. O. Russell Speech & Voice viii. 67 The author has a lead-tin, round-walled open organ pipe.
1956 Monogr. & Rep. Ser. Inst. Metals No. 18. 73 In the lead-tin alloys, as in many other alloy systems, precipitation is accompanied by recrystallization.
lead-tree n. (a) Botany a West Indian name for the tropical leguminous tree, Leucæna Glauca; (b) a crystalline deposit of metallic lead or zinc that has been placed in a solution of acetate of lead.
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1844 G. Fownes Man. Elem. Chem. 199 The common..experiment of the lead tree.
1864 A. H. R. Grisebach Flora Brit. W. Indian Islands 785 Lead-tree, Leucæna glauca.
lead-vitriol n. = anglesite n.
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1674 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Words 142 A Lead-walling is the Brine of twenty-four hours boiling for one house.
lead-wash n. = lead-water n.
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the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > preparations allaying inflammation > [noun] > mineral-derived
Goulard1806
soap-cerate1852
lead-water1875
lead-wash1876
1876 J. S. Bristowe Treat. Theory & Pract. Med. ii. ii. 326 The local inflammation may be allayed to some extent by the use of lead-wash.
lead-water n. (= German bleiwasser), dilute solution of acetate of lead ( New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon 1888).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > preparations allaying inflammation > [noun] > mineral-derived
Goulard1806
soap-cerate1852
lead-water1875
lead-wash1876
1875 Dental Cosmos 17 510 Keep the gum covered with a pellet of cotton saturated with lead-water and laudanum.
lead wool n. lead in a fibrous state, used for caulking pipe joints.
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > lead > lead in specific form
base bulliona1593
web lead1686
pig lead1736
lead bullion1905
lead wool1908
1908 Chambers's Jrnl. Jan. 120/1 What is called ‘lead wool’, consisting of pure lead cut into fine strips by machinery.
1930 Engineering 10 Oct. 451/1 The end bracket structure on the ends of each tube formed the lateral forms for the joint concrete. The actual face joint was made with lead wool caulked.
lead-work n. plumber's work and material; work in lead esp. glaziers' work.
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1641 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) I. 95 Leadworke in ye East Range.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 638 Lead-work is used in inferior offices.
1842 J. Gwilt Encycl. Archit. ii. iii. 586 Glazing..may be classed under the heads of sashwork, leadwork, and fretwork.
lead-works n. plural an establishment for smelting lead-ore.
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society > occupation and work > workplace > places for working with specific materials > place for working with metal > [noun] > other metals
goldwork1581
copper-work1631
brass-work1665
silver-work1674
copper-works1716
lead-worksa1728
goldsmithy1878
a1728 J. Woodward Attempt Nat. Hist. Fossils Eng. (1729) i. 7 The Lord Derwentwater's Lead-Works near Haden-Bridge in Northumberland.
1897 Daily News 25 Dec. 5/7 A lad employed at a leadworks.
lead-wort n. a herbaceous plant of southern Europe ( Plumbago Europæa); also, any plant of the genus Plumbago or the order Plumbagineæ.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Plumbaginaceae (leadwort and allies) > [noun]
lead-wort1727
plumbago1731
toothwort1760
tooth-root1819
Armeria1836
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Lead-wort, a kind of herb.
1845 J. Lindley School Bot. (new ed.) 104 c Plumbaginaceæ—Leadworts.
1852 C. Morfit Art of Tanning, Currying, & Leather-dressing (1853) 82 The dentellaria, or leadwort.
b. In names of chemical compounds, as lead carbonate, lead chloride, lead iodide, lead salts, etc.
lead tetraethyl n. = tetraethyl lead n. at tetra- comb. form 2a(c)(ii).
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1868 H. B. Jones & H. Watts Fownes's Man. Elem. Chem. (ed. 10) 451 Lead Chloride..separates as a heavy white crystalline precipitate.
1868 H. B. Jones & H. Watts Fownes's Man. Elem. Chem. (ed. 10) 452 Lead Iodide..dissolves in boiling water.
1868 H. B. Jones & H. Watts Fownes's Man. Elem. Chem. (ed. 10) 453 Lead Carbonate..is sometimes found..crystallized in long white needles, accompanying other metallic ores.
1868 H. B. Jones & H. Watts Fownes's Man. Elem. Chem. (ed. 10) 452 Lead Nitrate.
1887 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 52 i. 572 Lead tetraethyl, Pb Ph4.
1926 Encycl. Brit. II. 127/2 The tendency to knocking is suppressed by adding to the motor spirit substances such as lead tetra-ethyl which, it is assumed, act by being adsorbed by the ferriferous carbon in the cylinder.
1971 Daily Tel. 28 May (Colour Suppl.) 16/2 The amounts of lead in the environment have increased dramatically since the introduction of lead tetraethyl as a petrol additive in the Twenties... By controlling the rate at which fuel burns, lead tetraethyl promotes smoother ignition.
c. In the names of diseases caused by the presence of lead in the system, as lead-colic, lead-distemper, lead-encephalopathy, lead-paralysis, for which see also the second member in each. lead-palsy n. that induced by lead poisoning.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders caused by poisons > [noun] > by lead
lead-colic1774
lead-distemper1774
lead-encephalopathy1774
lead-palsy1774
lead poisoning1841
plumbism1842
saturnism1848
1774 T. Pennant Tour Scotl. 1772 114 The miners and smelters are subject here..to the lead distemper which brings on palsies.
1866 W. H. O. Sankey Lect. Mental Dis. viii. 162 Lead palsy..is accompanied with obstinate constipation or lead colic, and the gums are marked with a peculiar blue line.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. II. 967 Many of the miners..have died from lead encephalopathy.
Draft additions 1997
lead chromate n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > elements and compounds > metals > specific elements > lead > [noun] > compounds > lead chromate
lead chromate1866
1866 H. E. Roscoe Lessons Elem. Chem. xxiv. 214 Lead chromate is a yellow insoluble salt.
1962 J. R. Partington Hist. Chem. III. iii. 105 Collet-Descotils examined a lead ore..in which del Río claimed to have discovered a new metal..which was really vanadium.., but Collet-Descotils reported that it was only basic lead chromate.
Draft additions September 2022
lead white n. a white pigment containing lead; spec. a mixture of carbonate of lead and basic carbonate of lead, esp. used in paint and having a faint reddish undertone; (also) the paint based on this. Cf. white lead n. 1.The use of lead white paint is now widely banned, except in small quantities as an artist's material, because of toxicity to manufacturers and users and to the environment.Typical chemical formula: (approx.) 2PbCO3.Pb(OH)2.
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1598 J. Mosan tr. C. Wirsung Praxis Medicinæ Vniuersalis viii. xii. 743 Take Lead as much as you please, and beate it very thin, then poure as much distilled vineger vpon it vntill it be well couered, then will it be lead white.
1770 A. Young Six Months Tour N. Eng. I. vi. 388 Adjoining, a small dressing-room, the ceiling gilt scrolls on a lead white, light and pleasing.
1880 Artist Oct. 291/1 The chief Whites of the palette are those of lead, zinc, and barium, and the best Lead white is the carbonate of that metal.
2011 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 14 July 16/3 He was to build those structures up, over dun grounds, with lead white and red earth, chilly vine black and drab vandyke brown—plainspoken, workingman's pigments.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online December 2022).
leadn.2
/liːd/, U.S. /lid/ a. The action of lead v.2; leading, direction, guidance. to take to lead: to take under one's direction or guidance. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [noun] > leading
lodeOE
leadinga1240
leada1300
leadinga1300
manuduction1502
conduct1530
conduction1541
ducture1645
duct1654
duction1661
leadance1682
society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > guide > take under one's guidance
to take to leada1300
a1300 Cursor Mundi 1570 Þai left þe lede of þar lau.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12029 Þan tok ioseph iesus to ledde.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) x. l. 838 Decest scho was, god tuk hir spreit to leid.
c1510 Gest Robyn Hode vii. 368 in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1888) III. v. 74/1 Take fyue of the best knyghtes That be in your lede.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 10653 Hom lacked the lede of þe lorde Ector.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > one who is important > one who has leading position or is most important
firstc1275
coba1420
principalsa1425
cock1542
chief1569
colossus1605
primore1625
cape1650
sachem1684
leading light1707
high priest1737
king bee1792
gentleman, man of lead1793
queen bee1823
primo basso1826
spokesman1828
protagonist1837
kingpin1861
key man1895
headliner1896
big boy1921
numero uno1944
godfather1963
1793 Ld. Westmorland in W. E. H. Lecky Eng. in 18th C. (1887) VI. 558 The men of talent and lead in his Majesty's service.
1842 D. Webster Wks. (1877) II. 130 More than thirty Whigs, many of them gentlemen of lead and influence.
c. Direction given by going in front; example, precedent; esp. in to follow the lead of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > imitate [verb (transitive)] > follow advice, example, etc.
followOE
counterfeitc1405
to shoot atc1407
ensue1430
enfollowc1449
to follow suit with1655
to follow the lead of1863
1863 J. Bright in Parl. Deb. 3rd Ser. 171 1826 To accept the lead of the Emperor of the French on..one of the greatest questions.
1868 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. I. 405 The king had set an example..and the subject was only too ready to follow the royal lead.
1875 T. W. Higginson Young Folks' Hist. U.S. xxiv. 240 Under the lead of Josiah Quincy..a law was passed forbidding the importation of slaves.
1884 Lady Verney in Contemp. Rev. Oct. 546 Is the American model a success—a lead which it is desirable to follow out?
1899 T. K. Cheyne Christian Use Psalms iii. 56 The early Christians, in interpreting the Old Testament, followed the lead of the Jews.
d. spec. in Hunting, etc., chiefly in to give a lead, i.e., to go first in leaping a fence or the like, so as to encourage the rest; in quots. transferred.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunt [verb (intransitive)] > give lead
to give a lead1859
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [noun] > distance ahead of others
to give a lead1859
1859 G. A. Lawrence Sword & Gown v. 52 Two Sundays ago..a Mr. Rolleston..volunteered to give us a lead... He went off at score, and made the pace so strong, that he cut them all down in the first two verses.
1861 A. Trollope Orley Farm (1862) I. xxxviii. 296 I lost the run, and had to see Harriet Tristram go away with the best lead any one has had to a fast thing this year.
1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 535 ‘What thing?’ said I, not wishing to give him the lead.
e. A guiding indication; a clue (to the solution of something).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > solution, explanation > that which provides
keyeOE
explanation?a1475
master key1577
explanatory1650
cluea1665
clew1725
lead1851
solvent1865
accounting1885
society > communication > indication > [noun] > an indication or sign > a guiding indication
lead1851
1851 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 12 i. 141 As I have a small brook passing through the farm..these carriages take their lead from the stream in due succession.
1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. ii. 192 For the up and down direction we have a very impressive lead, this being the direction of gravity.
1910 J. London Let. 19 Nov. (1966) 323 Again and again I have opened up leads of true life and found that it was wholly misunderstood by my reading public.
1959 Times 18 Feb. 8/3 The enquiry arose from a complaint..that he had been given ‘definite leads’ to the questions in advance.
1971 Daily Tel. 17 Dec. 1/5 Three leads are being followed by detectives investigating the attempted assassination of the Jordanian Ambassador. They are a sub machine-gun.., an hotel bill..and fingerprints.
1973 Times 5 May 1/2 The French police have decided to shift their inquiry into the axe murder of Mr John Cartland, a Brighton schoolmaster, to Britain next week in search of new leads.
f. Journalism. A summary or outline of a newspaper story; a guide to a story that needs further development or exploration; the first (often the most important) item in an issue, bulletin, etc. Cf. lead story, etc., under sense Compounds 2 below.Quot. 1947 refers to a radio news broadcast.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > story > outline of
lead1927
society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > item > first
lead1947
1927 Amer. Speech 2 241 ‘Lead’..is used as a noun to refer to the initial summary of the story, or as a verb to instruct the printer what to put first.
1947 Hansard, Commons 19 Dec. 2113 There is what one calls the ‘lead’, which is..the first item.
1950 D. Hyde I Believed xvi. 189 I had several hundred accredited Worker Correspondents sending in regular reports and receiving regular ‘leads’ and directives from me.
1952 Manch. Guardian Weekly 20 Mar. 3 This discovery destroyed many a newsman's first confident ‘lead’.
1961 ‘B. Wells’ Day Earth caught Fire viii. 119 Stenning's brought in a lead to something that could be big.
1973 A. Broinowski Take One Ambassador ix. 128 He's onto some lead about a mob of fanatical rat~bags.
2.
a. The front or leading place; the place in front of (something); frequently in to take the (or a) lead. Also, the position or function of leading (e.g., a party, a deliberative body), leadership.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > pre-eminence > [noun] > pre-eminent position
firstheada1382
lead1570
pride of place1824
society > authority > control > [noun] > leading > leading place
lead1570
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > pre-eminence > [verb (intransitive)]
shinec900
to bear, fang, have the flower (of)c1310
exceed1482
pre-excel1587
excel16..
to take the (or a) lead1745
society > authority > control > be in control [verb (intransitive)] > lead
to begin, lead the dancec1325
to take the (or a) lead1745
skipper1883
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (intransitive)] > other
to take the right-hand file1616
first1635
to speak in capitals?1694
to take the (or a) lead1761
to play first (or second) fiddle1778
to play first violin1780
to be no great (some great, considerable, etc.) shakes1819
to pitch it strong1823
to come out strong1825
violin1895
repeat1923
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > go first or in front [verb (intransitive)]
foregoc825
to go beforec1225
preamble1402
to beat a path1589
to lead the waya1593
preambulate1598
anteambulate1623
antecede1628
to lead the van1697
to take the (or a) lead1768
lead1798
to lead off1806
1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xii. 40 His Grandschir slane at Lythquo gif I leid.
1745 T. Herring Speech at York 24 Sept. 6 This County..takes the Lead of the inferior Ones.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxvii. 127 He took the lead in every jovial conversation.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 200 They take the lead, and lose it..by turns.
1796 E. Burke Two Lett. Peace Regicide Directory France iii, in Wks. (1808) VIII. 137 To prevent those who compose it from having the open and avowed lead in that house.
1817 W. Cobbett Taking Leave 13 Unless they [sc. the country gentlemen] shall cordially take the lead amongst those working classes.
1839 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. VII. lii. 120 Boldly assuming the lead in diplomacy.
1840 T. Hood Up Rhine 5 For a mile or two the doctor took the lead and kept it.
a1859 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. (1861) V. xxiv. 169 The lead of the House of Commons had, however, entirely passed away from Montague.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xxv. 187 Each of our porters took the lead in turn.
1879 M. Arnold Equality in Mixed Ess. 66 On certain lines, certain nations find their strength and take a lead.
1884 Times (Weekly ed.) 26 Sept. 4/1 Germany has..taken the lead of other nations [in the preparation of colours from coal tar].
b. The body moving in front; the van. U.S.
ΚΠ
1880 A. W. Tourgée Fool's Errand & Invisible Empire xxxiii. 217 The lawyers were of course in the lead.
1880 A. W. Tourgée Fool's Errand & Invisible Empire xxxviii. 281 Then we started on. I rode beside Mr. Watson in the lead.
c. Australian and New Zealand. (See quot. 19331.)
ΚΠ
1933 L. G. D. Acland in Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) 4 Nov. 15/7 Lead, the front part of a mob of sheep.
1933 L. G. D. Acland in Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) 2 Dec. 15/7 An injudicious turn with a dog in an abrupt gully may stop the lead and cause some sheep to be knocked over.
1946 F. D. Davison Dusty ix. 90 Tom..sent [the sheepdog] Sapper to the flank [of the mob] and to turn the lead.
d. Finance. leads and lags (also attributive phrase lead-and-lag): see quot. 19651. Also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > [noun] > hastening or delaying payment
leads and lags1958
1958 Spectator 31 Jan. 129/1 The ‘leads and lags’ are being replaced by a more natural pattern of commercial payments.
1959 Economist 14 Feb. 619/2 The customary ‘leads and lags’ are at work, postponing commercial demands for sterling and accelerating sales of sterling.
1962 S. E. Finer Man on Horseback xii. 220 Sometimes the demand for popular sovereignty has preceded nationalism, sometimes it has been the other way about; but the leads and lags were never very lengthy.
1964 A. Battersby Network Anal. iii. 37 The lead-and-lag (or ladder) system has the merit of simplicity, and it draws attention to the importance of planning the sequence of individual jobs within a departmental activity.
1965 J. L. Hanson Dict. Econ. 253/2 Leads and Lags, with reference to international payments and their effect on the balance of payments this term is used on the hastening or delaying of payment, the former by residents and the latter to residents in order to take advantage of expectations of changes in the rate of exchange.
1965 Listener 13 May 692/2 Some foreigners, in the habit of acquiring sterling in advance of their commitments, refrained from doing so; that would be a mug's game, they thought, when sterling might be devalued before they had to pay. These are known as the ‘leads and lags’ in trade payments.
3. concrete. Something that leads.
a. An artificial watercourse, esp. one leading to a mill. Also mill-leat n. Cf. leat n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > stream > [noun] > channel for conveyance of water
water leatOE
water lade1224
leat1279
watergang1293
sow1316
trough1398
wissinga1400
lanec1420
waterway1431
water leasow1440
watercoursea1450
fleam1523
lead1541
cut1548
aqueducta1552
lake1559
strand1565
race1570
channel1581
watergauge1597
gout1598
server1610
carriage1669
runnel1669
aquage1706
shoot1707
tewel1725
run1761
penstock1763
hulve1764
way-gang1766
culvert1774
flume1784
shute1790
pentrough1793
raceway1793
water carriage1793
carrier1794
conductor1796
water carrier1827
penchute1875
chute1878
by-cut1883
1541 in T. Wright Churchwardens' Accts. Ludlow (1869) 9 Item, to Roger Meysy for cuttynge downe of ellorns in the ledes..ijd.
1842 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes Scotl. (new ed.) 45/2 They took..a loup in the lead, and a dip in the dam.
b. A channel in an ice-field. Cf. lane n.1 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > ice > body of ice > [noun] > ice-field or pack-ice > channel in
lead1835
1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage Explan. Terms 15 A lead, a channel in a direct line through the sea.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xi. 78 Something like ‘a lead’ a little to leeward.
1881 A. Leslie tr. A. E. Nordenskiöld Voy. Vega I. x. 519 Johnsen supposed that in a couple of hours the whole lead would be completely closed.
c. A path; a garden path; an alley. blind lead = blind alley n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > path or place for walking > [noun] > foot(-)path > in a garden or pleasure-ground
alleyc1405
alurea1450
walk1533
lead1590
paddock1678
walkway1792
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > cul-de-sac > [noun]
blind lanec1386
turn-again lane1531
blind alley1582
close1723
turn-again alley1754
loke1787
cul-de-sac1800
no-thoroughfare1809
dead-ender1870
impasse1882
blind lead1885
no through road1933
1590 in Acts Privy Council (1899) XIX. 409 Permytt them to enjoye the libertie of the gardens and the orchards and the leades to walke in.
1885 C. F. Holder Marvels Animal Life 51 Innumerable avenues and blind leads are built to mislead the various carnivorous beetles.
d. A leash or string for leading a dog.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping dogs or cats > [noun] > keeping or affinity with dogs > place to exercise hounds > collars, leads, etc.
linea1000
collar1377
torretc1386
dog collar1485
doghook1528
terret1530
slip1564
dogwhip1583
trash1611
shangan1787
puzzle-peg1789
puzzle1792
shangy1825
leading-strap1856
nosepiece1865
dog tag1882
lead1893
harness1895
silent whistle1923
standing iron1934
1893 Daily News 18 July 6/3 Daykin had with him a dog, which he held by a lead.
1898 Westm. Gaz. 2 Sept. 5/3 Seeing defendant with a muzzle in her hand and an unmuzzled toy terrier on a lead in Holborn.
e. New Zealand. (See quot. 1878.)
ΚΠ
1878 E. S. Elwell Boy Colonists 214 They made a ‘lead’ in the stockyard for branding the cattle. This was something like a ‘race’ for drafting sheep, with a swing gate... It had a wide entrance gradually getting narrower till it became a lane only just wide enough for one beast at a time to squeeze through.
4. Cards. The action or privilege of playing the first card in a round or trick. Also, the card so played, or proper to be played, or the suit to which it belongs. to return one's partner's lead: to play from the same suit on getting the lead.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > [noun] > actions or tactics > specific
discarding1592
facing1635
pull1715
lead1742
return1742
discard1778
solo1814
underplay1850
convention1862
force1862
showdown1870
unblocking1885
false-carding1923
passed hand1924
exit1934
reverse1936
loser-on-loser1947
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > card or cards > [noun] > cards of specific value in game
sequent1620
lead1742
maker1753
stop1808
strong card1839
king card1850
brisque1870
honour card1876
penultimate1876
guard1885
thirteener1891
wild card1940
1742 E. Hoyle Short Treat. Game Whist 11 If you have a Sequence of King, Queen, and Knave, or Queen, Knave, and Ten, they are sure Leads.
1742 E. Hoyle Short Treat. Game Whist 12 You need seldom return your Partner's Lead, if [etc.].
1862 ‘Cavendish’ Princ. Whist (1879) 57 If all your suits are weak, the lead is very disadvantageous.
1885 R. A. Proctor How to play Whist i. 21 A forced lead from Queen and one other.
1896 Daily News 28 Jan. 6/4 The system of American leads—leads more frequently mentioned than adopted in England.
5.
a. Curling. The first player, or the stone first played. Also, the course along which the stones are driven (Jamieson, 1825–80).
ΚΠ
1812 Sporting Mag. 40 52 Whoever is last in order..is called the driver and the first the lead.
1817 Lintoun Green in R. Brown Comic Poems 38 Convened for a bonspeel, He..Their lead, or driver leal.
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 6 572 The lead, or first stone, is always, except on very drug ice, expected to lie short.
b. Bowls. (See quot. 1753.)
ΚΠ
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Bowling Lead, the advantage of throwing the block and bowling first.
c. Boxing. The first punch thrown (of two or more) (see also quot. 1954).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > actions or positions
first bloodc1540
guard1601
feint1684
in holds1713
shifting1793
rally1805
muzzler1811
one-two1811
stop1812
southpaw1813
fibbing1814
leveller1814
mouther1814
ribber1814
stomacher1814
teller1814
in-fighting1816
muzzling1819
weaving1821
out-fighting1831
arm guard1832
countering1858
counter1861
clinching1863
prop1869
clinch1875
right and left1887
hook-hit1890
hook1898
cross1906
lead1906
jolt1908
swing1910
body shot1918
head shot1927
bolo punch1950
snap-back1950
counterpunch1957
counterpunching1957
Ali shuffle1966
rope-a-dope1975
1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands xvii. 233 Ther revolvin' arm..got home a left lead 'n 'er right cross.
1950 J. Dempsey Championship Fighting x. 50 The first punch thrown (by either) is a lead.
1954 F. C. Avis Boxing Ref. Dict. Lead, a forward blow made at a fair distance from the opponent.
1970 Times 28 Sept. 13/5 Those sneak right leads I hit him with helped as well.
1971 Black Scholar Jan. 43/2 Man, this would make these fighters so mad they would forget about boxing and come out swinging wild. And that was all old Jack wanted. He'd step inside their leads and counter punch them to death!
6. Mining.
a. = lode n. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > [noun] > vein > vein of ore
riba1500
lode1602
run1747
ore streak1755
streak vein1789
lead1814
filon1817
ore vein1830
ore-channel1864
chamber1865
range1866
ore band1874
1814 H. M. Brackenridge Views Louisiana ii. vii. 148 Leads, (or loads) are the smaller fissures that connect with the larger, which are called by the miners, caves.
1869 S. Bowles Our New West vii. 136 A quaint old miner of the valley, who, ‘prospecting’ for society that day, had struck a ‘lead’ in us.
1872 ‘M. Twain’ Roughing It xl. 280 A ‘blind lead’ is a lead or ledge that does not ‘crop out’ above the surface.
1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 151 Lead..See Lode.
1893 A. C. Gunter Miss Dividends 104 Capital..invested in the silver leads of the great mountains.
b. Gold-mining. An alluvial deposit of gold along the bed of an ancient river. Also deep-lead, great-blue-lead (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > [noun] > of alluvial gold
pocket1848
poor man's diggings1852
lead1855
1855 Argus (Melbourne) 19 Jan. 6/1 A great curiosity was discovered in a hole on this lead—a tree.
1874 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 16 The term ‘great blue-lead’ is employed by the miners to distinguish those portions of the alluvium which are found to rest in a well-defined channel.
1880 L. Fison & A. W. Howitt Kamilaroi & Kurnai 272 (note) The expression ‘deep lead’ refers to those ancient river-courses which are now only disclosed by deep-mining operations.
1888 F. Hume Madame Midas i. i. 20 Who..knew..where the richest leads had been in the old days.
7. Theatre.
a. The leading or principal part in a play.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > part or character > [noun] > principal character
protagonist1671
heroine1817
lead1831
shero1836
title role1857
title part1866
nayika1873
leading-business1880
beau rôle1887
name part1894
nayaka1933
hero1983
1831 J. Boaden Life Mrs. Jordan I. xi. 264 It gave him the lead in a successful play.
1865 Punch 7 Jan. 5/1 As a general rule an actor who plays the ‘lead’ ought to aim at becoming a general manager.
1874 F. C. Burnand My Time xxv. 229 She was a girl and playing the lead in the Northern Circuit.
1884 G. Moore Mummer's Wife (1887) 126 He had been playing heavy leads in Shakesperian revivals.
1939 T. S. Eliot Old Possum's Bk. Pract. Cats 37 I'd a voice that would soften the hardest of hearts, Whether I took the lead, or in character parts.
1953 R. Lehmann Echoing Grove 36 I played the lead, and it was big stuff; supporting roles are less rewarding.
b. One who plays such a part.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [noun] > actor playing specific type of part > leading actor
leading man1827
leading lady1874
lead1885
1885 J. K. Jerome On Stage 63 Grey-headed stars, and respectable married leads.
1937 Daily Tel. 14 Aug. 9/1 Many leading men and women (and some who are merely minor leads).
1973 Listener 21 June 844/2 The lead, Martin Thurley, must surely have studied the slovenly dialect of the area.
8.
Thesaurus »
Categories »
a. Change-ringing. (See quot. 1876.)
b. Music. The giving out of a phrase or passage by one of the parts in a concerted piece, to be followed in harmony by the other parts.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > type of piece > piece in specific form > [noun] > fugue > subject > entry of
point1597
lead1872
proposition1890
1671 Tintinnalogia 55 In Ringing Half-pulls, some Peals do cut Compass, that is—the whole hunt comes to lead at the back stroke.
1834 R. Southey Doctor I. 304 A lead single was made in the middle of the peal.
1872 Punch 27 Apr. 170/1 You always take up that ‘lead’ in the anthem so dreadfully ‘flat’.
1876 J. Stainer & W. A. Barrett Dict. Musical Terms 56/1 A bell is said to be ‘behind’ when she is the last of the changing bells, and at ‘lead’ when she is the first. Thus the progress from ‘lead’ to behind is said to be ‘going up’, and from behind to lead is called ‘going down’.
c. Music. The most prominent part in a piece played by an orchestra, esp. a jazz band; the player or instrument that plays this; the leader of a section of an orchestra; also, the start of a passage played by a particular instrument. Frequently attributive. Originally U.S.Further attributive examples are given under sense Compounds 2 below.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > [noun] > lead instrument
lead1934
society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [noun] > entry
entry1737
lead1934
society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [noun] > principal part
récit1749
lead1934
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > conductor or leader > [noun] > leader of orchestra
concertmaster1773
leader1786
sub-conductor1836
orchestra leader1843
professor1914
lead1934
1934 S. R. Nelson All about Jazz v. 99 He evolved what he called a ‘harmony chorus’, the instruments all playing harmony, with a solo lead.
1937 Amer. Speech 12 47 The lead melody is carried lower than the clarinet.
1952 B. Ulanov Hist. Jazz in Amer. xvii. 203 Hymie Schertzer's rich lead alto sounds.
1967 Oxf. Mail 27 Nov. 6/1 Those boys from the Chapel Royal and St. Paul's..attack their leads with the confidence of professionals.
1968 Blues Unlimited Sept. 8 They played mostly Italian music and polkas, with Charlie McCoy on lead mandolin.
9. friendly lead (see friendly adj. and n. Compounds 2). Also simply lead.
ΚΠ
1861 H. Mayhew London Labour (new ed.) III. 154/1 We went to a public-house where they were having ‘a lead’, that is a collection for a friend who is ill, and the company throw down what they can for a subscription, and they have in a fiddle and make it social.
10. In various technical uses.
a. (a) The angle between the plane through the lines of contact of the brushes or collectors of a dynamo or electric motor with the commutator and the transverse plane bisecting the magnetic field. (b) A conductor conveying electricity from the source to the place where it is used.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > [noun] > conductor
conductor1745
collector1777
saddle1839
lead1881
neutral1890
N1937
1881 Design & Work 24 Dec. 455/2 Had properly insulated and erected ‘leads’..been employed, no serious result would have followed personal contact.
1892 T. O'C. Sloane Standard Electr. Dict. (1893) 90 Lead of Brushes in a dynamo electric generator, the lead or displacement in advance of or beyond the position at right angles to the line connecting the poles of the field magnet, which is given the brushes. In a motor the brushes are set back of the right angle position, or are given a negative lead.
1898 Westm. Gaz. 11 Nov. 9/1 The use of candles could be dispensed with by the use of a wandering lead with a hand electric light.
b. Engineering, etc. The distance to which ballast, coal, soil, etc. has to be carted or otherwise conveyed (see lead v.1 1b) to its destination.
ΚΠ
1852 J. Wiggins Pract. Embanking Lands 113 The cost of earth-work depends on the nature of the soil, and the distance it has to be conveyed, which is called ‘the lead’.
1894 Westm. Gaz. 10 Feb. 6/1 Instead of sending the coal east and west with short ‘leads’, the company had to send it north and south with very long ‘leads’.
c. Horology. The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or pallet.
ΚΠ
1880 Tripplin & Rigg tr. Saunier Mod. Horol. 40.
d. Nautical. The direction in which running ropes lead fair, and come down to the deck (Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 1867). Cf. fairlead n.
ΚΠ
c1860 H. Stuart Novices or Young Seaman's Catech. (rev. ed.) 37 Ropes that want a lead can have one..by using a snatch block.
1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 30 Oct. 4 He knows..the lead of the ropes, the use of a boat, and a score of other things.
1897 R. Kipling Captains Courageous 73 The lead of each rope was fixed in Harvey's mind by the end of the rope itself.
Categories »
e. Sawing. ‘The overhang of a saw, to extend the cut throughout the length of the saw and to carry the saw back in the kerf during the return stroke’ (E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. 1875).
f. Steam-engine. (See quots.)
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Lead of the crank, the setting of the crank of one engine a little in advance of the right angle to the other; namely at 100° or 110° in place of 90°. This assists in rendering the motion of the piston more uniform, by moderating its velocity at the end of the stroke.
1881 Metal World No. 18. 274 The steam-port is open a very small amount when the crank is in this condition [on the dead centre], the amount that the steam-port is then open being termed the lead of the valve.
1895 Mod. Steam Engine 39 This amount of opening before the piston commences its stroke is called the lead of the slide.
Compounds
C1.
lead-bars n. Coaching the bars to which the traces of the leaders are attached.
ΚΠ
1840 Congress. Globe 5 Mar. App. 227/2 The horse broke loose from the coach, taking with him a part of what are now called ‘Lead bars’.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 188 Both check-reins were carried away and the lead bars broken.
lead-horse n. a horse that is guided by a lead (see 3d).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > equus caballus or horse > [noun] > guided by a lead
led horse1662
lead-horse1828
1828 J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner 256 Total weight carried by the lead horse.
lead-mule n. (cf. lead-horse n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > [noun] > hybrid horse and ass > mule > used for specific purpose
sumpter mule1579
bât-mule1787
pack mule1834
post-mule1835
pole mule1862
lead-mule1877
1877 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 345 Give me the lead-mule, and the rest of us will go on to camp.
lead-net n. = leader n.1 15b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > net > [noun] > other nets
Peter netc1280
flue1388
wade1388
stalker1389
shove-net1418
trod-net1523
butt1533
web1533
fagnet1558
seur1558
trimnet1558
trollnet1558
pot-net1584
treat net1584
weir-net1585
hagan1630
henbilt1630
rugnet1630
basket-net1652
landing-net1653
stream-net1662
wolf1725
ram's horn1792
gill net1795
wolf-net1819
trap-net1856
forewheel1861
stow-net1871
lave net1875
kettle-bail1881
beating-net1883
keeve-net1883
net basin1883
wing-neta1884
trap-seine1891
lead-net1910
ghost net1959
1910 Chambers's Jrnl. Mar. 192/2 The lead-net is about fifteen hundred feet long. The salmon strike this.
lead-reins n. Coaching the leaders' reins.
ΚΠ
1896 Outing 30 111/1 The buckles on these lead-reins should hang even over the leader's quarters... You have now both lead-reins in your left hand.
lead-rope n. a rope used as a lead for a horse or ox; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > general equipment > [noun] > lead
stringa1300
banda1400
head rope1810
tending-string1821
lead-rope1846
leading-string1859
jerk line1865
guy rein1869
headline1889
1846 R. B. Sage Scenes Rocky Mts. iii. 24 Holding in one hand the lead-rope of his horse.
1901 R. Kipling Kim vii. 169 ‘We be all on one lead-rope, then,’ said Kim at last, ‘the Colonel, Mahbub Ali, and I.’
1958 L. van der Post Lost World of Kalahari i. 15 Lifting the lead rope from the horns of the two guide-oxen.
lead-screw n. ‘the main screw of a lathe, which gives the feed motion to the slide-rest’ (Webster 1864).
lead sheet n. U.S. slang (see quot. 1942); also transferred, an overcoat.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > written or printed music > [noun] > sheet music > type of
lead sheet1942
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > coat > types of > overcoat
greatcoat1647
out-coat1684
wide coat1698
big coat1720
overcoat1802
trusty1804
jemmy1836
reefer1870
bridge coat1915
orchestration1939
lead sheet1942
1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §578/9 Lead sheet, a sheet of music containing the melodic line and lyric only.
1945 L. Shelly Hepcats Jive Talk Dict. 28/2 Lead sheet, an overcoat.
1961 R. Russell Sound iii. 38 You never got around to writing out a lead sheet!
lead-time n. originally U.S. the time taken to produce some manufactured article (see also quot. 1968); also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > manufacture or production > [noun] > time taken to manufacture
lead-time1945
1945 Birmingham (Alabama) News 19 May 8/1 The ‘lead-time’ normally required to bring out new models.
1957 Manch. Guardian 4 May The problem is..difficult, on account of the complex character of the equipment in question and the long lead-time involved.
1964 A. Battersby Network Anal. iii. 36 The chain-dotted arrows..represent lead times when they connect start events.
1968 J. F. Magee Industr. Logistics i. 19 ‘Lead time’ is the response time lag of the system, the time that must be allowed at a stock point to replenish stock, including the time needed to process records, transmit information, and process and ship material.
1971 Inside Kenya Today Mar. 28/1 Because of the lead-time in switching the emphasis in the secondary schools, the University is under pressure to increase its Arts intake very rapidly.
1973 Nature 28 Sept. 179/1 The long lead time required for such a rendezvous or flyby mission makes it impossible to achieve a fruitful interception with Kohoutek.
C2. Used in the sense of ‘leading’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [adjective]
foregoing1530
headmost1592
beginning1609
first1647
previous1658
forehand1664
leading1771
lead1846
vanmost1865
front flight1899
1846 R. B. Sage Scenes Rocky Mts. xxxiii. 289 Bidding them adieu, with my lead pack-animal returned to the mountains.
1857 in Ann. Wyoming (1939) 11 83 The carriage sustained no injury, but one of our lead Mules became detached from the wagon.
1869 Overland Monthly Aug. 127/1 With the Texan driver all oxen are ‘steers’, and he has his ‘wheel-steers’, his ‘swing-steers’, and his ‘lead-steers’.
1888 R. Kipling Barrack-room Ballads (1892) 117 Then the lead-cart stuck, though the coolies slaved, and the cartmen flogged.
1890 R. Kipling Barrack-room Ballads (1892) 18 The rattle an' stamp o' the lead-mules.
1903 A. Adams Log of Cowboy ii. 16 Closely followed by several lead cattle, I struck straight for the American shore.
1905 A. Adams Outlet 284 The lead herd had been sighted in trail formation.
1910 W. M. Raine Bucky O'Connor 189 It was as the man in charge circled round to head the lead cows in that a faint voice carried to him.
1929 Randolph Enterprise (Elkins, W. Va.) 28 Mar. 1/2 Dick Collette played the lead violin and Bryan Gainer, second.
1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §523/3 Leader, lead story, a leading news item.
1959 J. Osborne World Paul Slickey i. vi. 55 Congratulations..on today's lead story.
1962 Amer. Speech 37 87 A lead article satirizing American temperance groups.
1963 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 22 Nov. (1970) 3 In the lead car were President and Mrs. Kennedy.
1967 Time 25 Aug. 38 The Group Image, one of the new, first-name-only hippie groups, of which Nancy is the den mother..and Artie the lead guitar. The tribe has about 25 musicians, artists and psychedelic experts in it.
1967 W. Soyinka Kongi's Harvest 3 Superintendent... Seizes the lead drummer by the wrist.
1973 ‘F. Clifford’ Amigo, Amigo xxi. 175 Ahead, the lead horse whinnied.
1973 Listener 6 Sept. 312/3 Carl Perkins..now playing lead guitar behind Johnny Cash.
1975 Guardian 7 Jan. 6/7 A mob of Hell's Angels set on members of the Troggs pop group in their dressing-room and during a fight the group's lead guitarist was stabbed five times in the back.
Draft additions 1997
The extent to which something or someone is leading (in a race or other contest); an advantage or ‘edge’ on or over an opponent, rival, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being better or superior > [noun] > extent of superiority
lead1868
1868 H. Woodruff & C. J. Foster Trotting Horse Amer. xxiv. 207 I passed first one and then the other, and came on the home-stretch with a clear lead.
1894 Outing 24 36/2 The ‘Una’ turned the weather-mark with a lead of nearly half an hour.
1926 Westm. Gaz. 20 July 1/4 The Whip..continues to hold a strong lead in Naps over the selections of the other racing critics.
1949 ‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-four ii. ix. 195 None of the three super-states ever gains a significant lead on the others.
1967 Boston Herald 1 Apr. 17/7 Harris built up an early lead over the baffled 29-year-old veteran.
1976 Ld. Home Way Wind Blows xii. 168 Today's superiority of the Warsaw Pact is in personnel roughly 3–1, and Russia's lead in numbers of tanks and aircraft is such that the allies are on the margin of safety.
1991 Cycling Weekly 27 July 3/2 Yellow jersey Miguel Indurain still held the three minutes lead which he took by finishing second in last Friday's epic Pyrenean stage.
Draft additions 1997
a. Railways. The distance from the tip of the blade of a set of points to the point where one rail crosses another, usually measured along the straight track; the section of track so measured.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > rail travel > railway system or organization > [noun] > track > parts and fittings of rails
string-piece1789
carriage1816
chair1816
pedestal1816
surface plate1822
web1835
frog1837
switch-bar1837
snake-head1845
fish1847
fish-joint1849
plate nail1849
fishing-key1852
fish-plate1855
joint-chair1856
rail chair1864
railhead1868
lead1871
fish-bar1872
splice-piece1875
fish-plating1881
splice-jointa1884
splice-bar1894
1871 W. Donaldson Switches & Crossings v. 131 The value of the circular measure of the angle of a crossing is expressed by a fraction whose numerator is unity. The value of the denominator will be sufficiently exact if it be put equal to the nearest integer if the lead of the crossing is long, or to the nearest half integer if the lead is short.
1890 W. H. Cole Notes on Permanent-Way Material iii. 69 Some platelayers have an idea that they can make a crossing easier by lengthening the lead.
1908 W. G. Raymond Elem. Railroad Engin. II. vii. 82 The distance from head-block to the point of frog, measured by some makers along the straight rail and by others along the curved rail, is called the lead. Probably, technically, the distance along the curved rail is the lead, and the distance along the straight rail would better be known as the frog distance.
1920 Perrott & Badger Pract. Railway Surveying xii. 212 The length of a ‘lead’ is usually understood to be the length from the toe of the points to the splice of the V-crossing.
1953 W. W. Hay Railroad Engin. I. xxvii. 438 Turnouts are designed on the basis of the frog angle (or number), the length of point, and the degree of turnout curve. These, in turn, give rise to an overall dimension, the lead.
1971 D. H. Coombs Brit. Railway Track (ed. 4) iii. 132 Switches and common crossings may be combined to give turnouts of varying leads and radii. With the introduction of curved switches, the range of available leads is much increased.
b. Mechanics. The axial distance travelled by a screw thread in one revolution. Cf. pitch n.2 25b.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > screw > thread > parts of thread
root1865
lead1905
crest1916
flank angle1951
1905 J. Horner Engineers' Turning xiv. 266 A problem which arises more frequently now than formerly is that of cutting threads of steep pitch, or lead, for multiple-threaded worms.
1913 E. Pull Screw Cutting for Engineers i. 4 Lead is a term generally used when referring to multiple threads, and is the distance a nut would travel in one revolution, or the distance between the centre of one thread and the centre of the same thread allowing for one complete turn.
1936 Colvin & Stanley Turning & Boring Pract. v. 55 A double thread has a lead twice the pitch, a triple screw three times, and so on.
1967 J. H. Potter Handbk. Engin. Sci. II. xiii. 1043 For a multiple-threaded screw, the lead is l = np, where n is the number of threads [and p = pitch].
1991 What's New in Design Sept. 50/1 SX screws are available in lead precision classes G5, G6, G7 and G9 and with leads of 5, 10 or 20 to give ten diameter/lead combinations.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
leadv.1
/liːd/, U.S. /lid/ I. To conduct.absolute.c1420 Anturs of Arth. (Douce) 397 Withe a launce one loft þat louely cone lede.1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Life Agricola in tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. 253 The army..cryed to leade into Caledonia.1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon Hist. 10 Cyrus..told them, that his purpose was to lead against the great King.1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. iv. 430 Go therefore thou, Lead on.absolute.1597 F. Bacon Of Coulers Good & Euill (Arb.) 138 Besides their power to alter the nature of the subiect in appearance, and so leade to error.† 9. absolute.a1300 Cursor Mundi 28277 Maister o childer i was sum-quare, I ledd noght lele wit my lare.1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. July 185 For shepeheards (sayd he) there doen leade, As Lordes done other where.† b. reflexive. To conduct oneself, behave, act. Obsolete.† 10. To deal with, treat (cf. guide v. 5). In past participle: Circumstanced, situated, in such and such a condition.
1. transitive. To cause to go along with oneself.† a. To bring or take (a person or animal) to a place. Also with away, down, etc. Obsolete. (Phrases like to lead captive are now understood in sense 2.)quasi-passive in gerund.c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) cxliv. 539 The other prysoners, whom we see yonder ledyng to the dethe warde.1757 R. Griffith & E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances II. cxcii. 38 Suppose a Criminal, leading forth to Execution.† c. Of a natural agent, e.g. the wind: To carry. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > [verb (transitive)] > lay before court
leadc825
presenta1325
pursue1384
propone1400
to put in1447
enterc1503
table1504
to bring in1602
deduce1612
lodge1708
lay1798
to bring up1823
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > show (the way) [verb (transitive)] > bring or take to a place
leadc825
conveya1375
accompany1426
bringa1500
assist1525
associate1548
hand1590
commit1598
see1603
to set out1725
set1740
trot1888
c825 Vesp. Psalter lxvii[i]. 19 Astigende in heanisse gehefte lædde heftned.
c1000 Ælfric Genesis vi. 19 Of eallum nytenum..twegen gemacan þu lætst in to þam arce mid þe.
c1000 Ælfric Genesis xlii. 20 Læde eowerne gingstan broðor to me.
a1175 Cott. Hom. 221 God ȝeledde to him niatenu..and adam ham alle namen ȝesceop.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13375 [He] ladde uorð Petreiun læð þeh hit weore him.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 8803 Oþer kniȝtes þer were inome,..& ilad in to engelond.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2193 He dede hem binden and leden dun And speren faste in his prisun.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 858 Wifwes and childre..He ledden a-wei wið herte prud.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 97 Þat þe kyng schulde be lad awey prisoner in to Babilon.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) x. 113 The Jews ladden him upon an highe Roche.
c1480 (a1400) SS. Simon & Jude 408 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 220 Þe forsad byschapis of þat stede al hale þe puple with þam lede.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xiv. 160 Boldly thou thaym bynde And with the leyde.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 604/2 Shall I leade him away with me?
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay 70 God sal leid thaime vp to the heuine with hime quhilk ar deid in christ.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 71v Ieremy before the people were led away apointeth their exile to continew threescore and ten yeares.
1705 T. Hearne Ductor Historicus (ed. 2) I. iii. 463 The Pannonians..he successfully subdued, leading away the Younger sort into other Countries.
b. To carry or convey, usually in a cart or other vehicle. Now northern dialect: To cart (coal, corn, stones, turf, etc.). to lead in (grain): to house.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > transport or convey in a vehicle [verb (transitive)]
leadc900
drive1667
vehicle1680
ride1687
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) i. i. 30 Of Breotone nædran on scipum lædde wæron.
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. iii. v. [vii.] 168 Hædde biscop heht his lichoman..lædan to Wintaceastre.
a1225 Leg. Kath. 2251 We, aȝeines þin heast, þæt licome awei ledden.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1772 To læden þis garisume to leuene mine fadere.
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. iv. 130 Lawe schal ben a laborer and leden [1377 lede] a-feld dounge.
c1386 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 158 The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5129 Siluer and gold þai wit þam ledd.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xxiii. 248 Thei leiden hire Houses with hem upon chariottes.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 5300 Þare armour hame þai led.
a1475 Bk. Curtasye (Sloane 1986) l. 813 in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 326 Þe vssher ledes þat on hed ryȝt.
a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 33 Whenne þou hast covered hit [sc. venesone] so, Lede hit home.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 195 Vith this bunnok spokin had thai To leid [1489 Adv. lede] thair hay.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) x. l. 916 A drawcht off wod to leid.
1528 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 260 To Smythson, for ledinge corne at Acclame, vjs. viijd.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 604/2 He was ledde thorowe the towne upon a hardell and so to the galowes.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 597 Leidand Coillis he ȝeid To Paris the way.
1594 Acct.-bk. W. Wray in Antiquary (1896) 32 55 For leding ij lodes of haye, xijd.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1891) 93 And being thus dried throwlie they [turfs] are led home and layed then vp.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iv. iii. 270 Faith sir, ha's led the drumme before the English Tragedians. View more context for this quotation
1683 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 341 For two load of lime and leading it, 5s.
1721 A. Ramsay Elegy Patie Birnie v Tho' peats and turfs and a's to lead.
1799 J. Robertson Gen. View Agric. Perth 195 In no case to reap when they ought to be leading in (housing) their grain.
1839 W. B. Stonehouse Hist. Isle of Axholme 43 One shilling a load is the price generally paid for leading a cart-load of warp.
1841 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 2 ii. 191 He undertakes to convey (or lead, as the term is) all the materials for a new building.
1887 H. Caine Deemster II. xvi. 14 Davy was sent for the pair of oxen to where they were leading manure.
1891 J. C. Atkinson Forty Years Moorland Parish 64 The people of the farm in question..had been leading, that is, carting hay in a ‘catchy’ time.
ΚΠ
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2023 He ariuede at souþ hamptone as þe wind hom adde ylad.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 1805 Þe wind him ledd a-pon þe flodd.
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 606 Causing the clouds, to lead in store of raine.
d. To bring forward, adduce (testimony); to bring (an action). Now only in Scots Law.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > carry on or institute (an action) [verb (transitive)]
bringc1000
move1379
pursue1384
leada1400
suea1422
raise1436
maintain1456
conceive1467
persecute1483
implead1554
suscitate1560
solicit?a1562
intenda1578
intent1630
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16278 Quat mister es o wijtnessing again him for to lede?
1503 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. 430 The richtis, ressonis and allegacionis of batht the said parties,..led, herde, sene and understandin.
a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 224 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 101 The crovss capone..Was officiale but less yat ye law leidis.
1564 Warrant in D. H. Fleming Mary Q. of Scots (1897) 494 Forsamekill as thair wes ane proces of forfaltoure led aganis Mathew sumtyme Erle Leuenax [etc.].
1637 S. Rutherford Lett. (1863) I. 379 A process leading agst. my guiltiness.
1831 W. Hamilton in Edinb. Rev. Mar. 203 No evidence has yet been led to show.
1884 Law Rep.: Appeal Cases 9 251 His wife..obtained..a judicial declaration that he had..forfeited his right to lead the proof allowed him and she then led a proof in absence.
1887 Scotsman 19 Mar. Proof was led to-day in this action of separation and aliment.
2.
a. To accompany and show the way to; to conduct, guide, esp. to direct or guide by going on in advance; to cause to follow in one's path. Often with adverbs, astray, away, forth, in, on, out, up, etc.In early examples apparently merely a contextual use of sense 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > show (the way) [verb (transitive)] > accompany as a guide
leada900
conduec1330
conductc1400
convey14..
condc1460
conducec1475
convoyc1480
carrya1522
wain1540
train1549
marshal1590
gallant1806
usha1824
trot1888
get1984
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > go in front of [verb (transitive)] > cause to follow in one's path
leada900
a900 Martyrol. 26 in Old Eng. Texts 178 Mine englas ðec lædað in ða hiofonlican Hierusalem.
971 Blickl. Hom. 27 He hine lædde upon swiþe hea dune.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 119 Monie þewas..ledað to deþe on ende þa þe heom duseliche folȝiað.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14468 Caym..ledde himm [Abæl] ut upp o þe feld.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 551 Brutus nom Ignogen & into scipe lædde [c1300 Otho ladde].
a1300 Cursor Mundi 24620 Vnto þe tun þan i me ledd.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3607 Go, led ðis folc.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2618 Þe werwolf hem ladde ouer mures & muntaynes.
1382 J. Wyclif Psalms lxxvii[i]. 14 He ladde hem thennes in the cloude of the day.
c1480 (a1400) St. Thais 47 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 216 Þane til a chawmir scho hym lede mare priue.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) xxxviii. 196 The gentle porteres..on my way then me lede.
1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xvi. 51 Bot he will leid him in the myre Thocht he hecht to defend him.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 265 To ane preuie Chalmer beliue thay him led.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 312 How now noble Pompey? What, at the wheels of Cæsar? Art thou led in triumph? View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 309 Therefore shall not Moses..his people into Canaan lead . View more context for this quotation
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 321. ¶9 Satan is afterwards led away to Gabriel.
1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the First 5 O lead my Mind,..Lead it thro' various scenes of Life.
1847 H. Rogers Ess. (1860) III. 402 The criminal must be led back by the same road by which he has been led astray.
1877 C. M. Yonge Cameos cxxxiv, in Monthly Packet Mar. 207 He was led into the chamber of presence.
b. Of motives, conditions, circumstances: To guide, direct to a place.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > show (the way) [verb (transitive)] > guide, lead, or show one the way > specifically of motions or conditions
leada1400
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20386 Sais me quat has you hider ledde.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel II. 44 It was a happy hour That led me up to Barnack hill.
1861 Temple Bar 1 467 Chance led him to Basil.
1892 Eng. Illustr. Mag. 9 867 Instinct early led him into the political arena.
c. Of a clue, light, sound, etc.: To serve (a person) as an indication of the way; to mark the course for. Also absol. to lead in (Nautical): to mark the course for entering port.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > show (the way) [verb (transitive)] > guide, lead, or show one the way > specifically of a clue, light, or sound
to beat out1672
twinkle1690
lead1697
unwind1716
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 129 By the tinkling Sound of Timbrels led, The King of Heav'n in Cretan Caves they fed. View more context for this quotation
1824 T. Campbell Theodric 185 Led by that clue, he left not England's shore Till he had known her.
1834 J. H. Newman in Brit. Mag. Feb. 153 Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on!
1860 Mercantile Marine Mag. 7 316 The two latter Lights in line lead in.
d. absol., chiefly in figurative contexts.
ΚΠ
1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David i. i He blessed is who..[never] loosely treads The straying steps as wicked councel leads.
c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas i. in Wks. (1898) I. 89 Quhair ever thou dost leid We follow the.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. i. 98 We charge you..To go with vs vnto the Officers. King. In Gods name lead . View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. i. 183 Pray leade me on.
1624 F. Quarles Iob Militant xvi. 30 My lips shall tread That ground..as Truth shall leade.
1836 J. H. Newman et al. Lyra Apost. 111 Into God's Word..Thou leadest on and on.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters xvi. 390 [They] who desire to lead, must at all events make a show of following.
e. to lead the way: †(a) with personal object, to guide, show the way to (obsolete); (b) in later use (influenced by sense 13), to go in advance of others, take the lead in an expedition or course of action.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunt [verb (transitive)] > be first in the chase
to lead the wayc1175
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > show (the way) [verb (transitive)] > lead back
teachc893
forleadOE
to lead the wayc1175
kenc1200
dressc1330
lerec1330
guy1362
guidec1374
reduce?a1425
tell1485
way lead1485
arrect1530
reconduct1566
reduct1580
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > guide, lead, or show the way [verb (intransitive)]
kenc1200
lead1509
to lead the waya1593
usher1612
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > go first or in front [verb (intransitive)]
foregoc825
to go beforec1225
preamble1402
to beat a path1589
to lead the waya1593
preambulate1598
anteambulate1623
antecede1628
to lead the van1697
to take the (or a) lead1768
lead1798
to lead off1806
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > advance, progress, or develop [verb (intransitive)] > lead the way
to begin, lead the dancec1325
to lead (also rule) the ringa1450
to lead (bear, have) the vana1661
pioneer1780
to take up the running1825
blaze1841
to lead the way1874
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 3465 & teȝȝre steorrne wass wiþþ hemm To ledenn hemm þe weȝȝe.
c1480 (a1400) St. Paul 203 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 35 Þe quhilkis ledand hym þe way, praide hym [etc.].
a1593 C. Marlowe Edward II (1594) sig. E Lead on the way.
1599 H. Porter Pleasant Hist. Two Angrie Women of Abington sig. H3v Lead thou the way, and let me hold by thee.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII v. iv. 72 Lead the way Lords. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 100 The first to lead the Way, to tempt the Flood. View more context for this quotation
1709 M. Prior Ode to Col. Villiers in Poems (1905) 122 And in their various Turns the Sons must tread Those gloomy Journeys, which their Sires have led.
1770 O. Goldsmith Deserted Village 170 He..allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.
1832 H. Martineau Ireland ii. 22 Dora..led the way..in an opposite direction.
1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest I. vii. 115 I can manage it, Humphrey, so lead the way.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People ii. §6. 89 In the silent growth and elevation of the English people the boroughs led the way.
f. To aim in advance of.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)] > aim (gun) > in specific manner
weather1588
lead1892
poke1898
walk1944
1892 W. W. Greener Breech-loader 267 Theoretically it is correct to lead a quartering pigeon from five to seven feet.
1968 D. Hamilton Menacers xxii. 176 I led him by roughly two feet and pressed the trigger of the Luger.
g. Colloquial phrase lead me to (something previously mentioned), expressing the ability to perform or a desire to comply, or merely expressing eager assent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [phrase] > expressing eagerness
lead me to1929
1929 W. E. Miller To you I tell It 107 ‘How wood you like to urn a piece of jack?’ ‘Leed me to it,’ says Figgars. ‘What's the propozishion?’
1934 D. L. Sayers Nine Tailors 307 ‘Can you ride a motor-bike?’.. ‘Lead me to it, guv'nor!’
1938 D. Smith Dear Octopus ii. iii. 90 Lead me to that whiskey.
h. to lead with one's chin (Boxing slang), to ‘stick one's neck out’, to leave oneself unprotected; figurative, to behave or speak incautiously.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > face danger [verb (intransitive)] > risk oneself > run or take risks
dicec1440
to put one's finger in the fire1546
hazardc1550
venture1560
to jeopard a joint1563
to venture a joint1570
to run (also take) a (also the) risk (also risks)1621
danger1672
risk1767
gamble1802
to ride a tiger1902
to stick (also put) one's neck out1926
to lead with one's chin1949
to tickle the dragon('s tail)1964
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > box [verb (intransitive)] > give in
to sky the wipe (or towel)1907
to roll with the punches1910
to pull one's punches1931
to lead with one's chin1949
1949 E. S. Gardner in Argosy Apr. 110/3 Let him lead with his chin. We'll work undercover.
1954 F. C. Avis Boxing Ref. Dict. Lead with chin, to have a very bad stance or guard.
1968 Listener 18 Jan. 78/2 I thought it was a good idea to say that I was prejudiced to begin with, to lead with my chin.
1973 A. MacVicar Painted Doll Affair i. 19 Don't go leading with your chin, Bruce.
3. Of a commander: To march at the head of and direct the movement of. Also with on. †Also to conduct (warfare) = Latin ducere bellum.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military service > serve as a soldier [verb (intransitive)] > lead or command
leada900
sergeantc1430
command-in-chief1759
society > armed hostility > military service > make into soldier [verb (transitive)] > lead or command
leada900
awit1250
guidec1374
conducta1500
command1594
officer1709
command-in-chief1759
fight1779
general1797
society > armed hostility > war > wage (war) [verb (transitive)]
workeOE
war1390
levy1471
wagec1485
lead1508
a900 Anglo-Saxon Chron. an. 827 (Parker MS.) Se Ecgbryht lædde fierd to Dore wiþ Norþan hymbre.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1609 Wiþ þe clennest cumpanye þat euer king ladde.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vii. l. 1171 Hew Kercyngayme the wantgard ledis he.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 154 Where ben tho that ladd the grete hostes?
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. bvi The thrid heght schir bantellas the batal to leid.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xi. iii. 28 Ne na weirfair with ȝour pepill leid I.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 332 He leidis ane armie till Northumbirland.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. vi. 4 You (worthy Vnkle) Shall..Leade our first Battell. View more context for this quotation
1736 T. Lediard Life Marlborough II. 267 The Prince..led them on with great Gallantry.
1821 Turner's Easy Introd. Arts & Sci. (ed. 18) 188 Many thousands of them [elephants] have at once been led to battle.
1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest I. iv. 71 He longed..to lead his men on to victory.
4.
a. To go before or alongside and guide by direct or indirect contact; to conduct (a person) by holding the hand or some part of the body or clothing, (an animal) by means of a cord, halter, bridle, etc. Const. by (the hand, etc.). Also with adverbs away, in, off, on, out, up and down, etc. to lead apes (in hell): see ape n. 6.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > show (the way) [verb (transitive)] > guide, lead, or show one the way > by contact
lead971
hand1590
971 Blickl. Hom. 71 His þegnas..læddon him to þone eosol.
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xv. 14 Se blinda gyf he blindne læt hig feallað begen on ænne pytt.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 111 Þet mon..sarine frefrað oðer blindne let.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 446 Tristrem hunters seiȝe ride, Les of houndes þai ledde.
c1420 Anturs of Arth. 447 His stede was sone stabillede, and lede to þe stalle.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur i. xlix The brachet was mine that the Knight lad away.
c1480 (a1400) St. George 274 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 184 Ta þi belt, & hyme [sc. a dragon] lede, & about his hals knyt it sone.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 137 That ane blynde man is led furth be ane vther.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 39 His fa sum be the oxtar ledis.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 604/2 Lede my horse, I praye you, up and downe.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A3v A milkewhite lambe she lad.
1614 A. Gorges tr. Lucan Pharsalia i. 37 Then doth he take a faire large bull..And him vnto the Altar leades.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. iv. 69 The captive soldier was led forth.
1813 Sketches of Character (ed. 2) I. 29 [She] returned, leading in a lovely little girl.
1830 Ld. Tennyson Ode to Memory iii, in Poems 60 In sweet dreams..Thou leddest by the hand thine infant Hope.
1862 Temple Bar 4 252 The chestnut..was led off to the stable.
b. to lead (a bride) to the altar, to church (†also simply: ? after Latin ducere): To marry.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (intransitive)] > of a man
to wed (a woman) to wifea1000
brideOE
i-wivec1000
wiveOE
to wed (a) wife1297
to lead (a bride) to the altar, to church1530
to wive it1583
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 604/2 I lede a bride to churche, je mayne.
1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Twelfth Bk. Metamorphoses in Fables 429 He had either led Thy Mother then; or was by Promise ty'd.
1812 W. S. Landor Count Julian v. iii. 5 He leads her to the altar, to the throne.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Lord of Burleigh in Poems (new ed.) II. 201 He..leads her to the village altar.
c. figurative (a) In opposition to drive: To guide by persuasion as contrasted with commands or threats. (b) to lead by the nose (for the allusion cf. quot. a1616): to cause to obey submissively. Also †to lead by the sleeve.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > subjecting or subjugation > subject [verb (transitive)] > make submissive
stoopc1275
to lead by the sleevec1425
to lead by the nose1583
subdue1598
woman1611
melt1668
to make a woman of1742
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > guide by persuasion
lead1589
c1425 J. Lydgate Assembly of Gods 1680 How false idolatry ledeth hem by the sleue.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie cxxi. 745 Men..suffer themselues to bee led by the noses like brute beasts.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxiv. 246 Princes may be lead but not driuen.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 393 The Moore..will as tenderly be led bit'h nose—as Asses are. View more context for this quotation
1631 in S. R. Gardiner Rep. Cases Star Chamber & High Comm. (1886) 20 You shall meete with ignorant Juryes, your duty is to open their eyes, you may not leade them by the nose.
1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas III. vii. xii. 77 They [sc. the great] have favourite domestics, who lead them by the nose.
1856 C. Kingsley Plays & Puritans 211 A mob of fools and knaves, led by the nose in each generation by a few arch-fools and arch-knaves.
1862 Temple Bar 4 167 She might be led, but would not be driven.
d. intransitive (quasi-passive). To be led; to submit to being led.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > submissiveness > submission > submit [verb (intransitive)]
onboweOE
bowa1000
abeyc1300
yielda1330
loutc1330
couchc1386
to come to a person's mercy?a1400
to do (also put) oneself in (also to) a person's mercya1400
hielda1400
underlouta1400
foldc1400
to come (also to put oneself) in a person's willc1405
subjectc1475
defer1479
avale1484
to come in1485
submita1525
submita1525
stoop1530
subscribe1556
compromit1590
warpa1592
to yield (also bow oneself) to (also upon) mercy1595
to come in will to a person1596
lead1607
knuckle1735
snool1786
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice i. 75 Till hee be so tame..that he will leade vppe and downe quietlye.
1821 W. Scott Pirate II. xi. 277 My master may lead, but he winna drive.
1887 I. Randall Lady's Ranche Life Montana 148 In the morning the pupils [colts] have learnt their lesson, and will lead anywhere.
5. To guide with reference to action or opinion; to bring by persuasion or counsel to or into a condition; to conduct by argument or representation to a conclusion; to induce to do something. Said both of persons and motives, circumstances, evidence, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)]
leada1225
accoya1375
form1399
persuadec1450
persuadec1487
practise1524
temper1525
work1532
suade1548
perduce1563
to draw on1567
overdraw1603
possess1607
bring1611
sway1625
tickle1677
tamper1687
to touch up1796
to put the comether on someone1818
a1225 Leg. Kath. 261 Þe feont..leadeð [men] to unbileaue.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 26696 He said þar-till his wijf him ledde.
c1330 Spec. Gy Warw. 62 Þe world þurw his foule gile Haþ me lad to longe while.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 445 Herby bene man lad in to fendus temptacioun.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 217 Al accordid, that kynde lad the chylde that to done.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 21 The wyl of man ever commynly folowyth that to the wych opynyon..ledyth hyt.
1588 Ld. Hunsdon Let. 23 Jan. in Border Papers (1894) I. 307 Sondrie cawses..leades me greatlie to mistrust the Kinges good meaning towards her Majesty.
a1605 A. Montgomerie Devotional Poems in Poems (1910) iii. 26 To lyf that leddie sall the leid.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 1 Bruit-beasts led with sensualitie.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxx. 177 They ought not to be led with admiration of the vertue [etc.].
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 40. ¶1 This Errour they have been led into by a ridiculous Doctrine in modern Criticism.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. Introd. p. viii Our whole Nature leads us to ascribe all moral Perfection to God.
1859 J. Ruskin Two Paths App. i. 254 Tintoret..may lead you wrong if you don't understand him.
1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 411 Edward's foreign policy led him to draw closer the ties which connected our country with Germany.
1871 B. Stewart Heat (ed. 2) §239 In studying the radiation of gases we are led to some very peculiar laws.
1885 Law Rep.: Chancery Div. 29 479 There was nothing in the prospectus to lead him to such a conclusion.
1888 H. F. Lester Hartas Maturin II. vi. 122 She knew the colonel was easily led.
6.
a. Of a way, road, etc.: To serve as a passage for, conduct (a person) to or into a place. Hence absol. or intransitive, to have a specified goal or direction. Cf. Latin via ducit in urbem. Often in figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > go or lead (of a road or path) [verb (intransitive)]
golOE
leadc1175
winda1555
strike1585
bound1590
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > guide, lead, or show the way [verb (intransitive)]
kenc1200
lead1509
to lead the waya1593
usher1612
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12917 Forr þiss lamb iss þatt rihhte stih Þatt ledeþþ upp till heffne.
a1200 Moral Ode 337 Læte we..þe wei bene þe lat þe niȝeðe del to helle of manne.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 165 Þet is þe way þet let in-to þe helle of god.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. vii. 14 How streit is the ȝate, and narewe the weye, that ledith to lijf.
c1480 (a1400) St. Mary of Egypt 843 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 320 Gyf he..wald kene me þe gat, þat mycht me led to þe flume Iordane.
1509 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 112 Ye hygheway..ledyng toward Ipswych.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Dviiv Yet both entendeth to go the iourney that ledeth to the hye Ierusalem.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. i. 32 A little doore, Which from the Vineyard to the Garden leades . View more context for this quotation
1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania 452 The way of necessity leading me to follow my disdainer.
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 194. ⁋2 There was a single Bridge that led into the Island.
1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. ix. 48 There were but two Ways that led equally to all the Dignities of the Republick.
1780 A. Young Tour Ireland i. 288 The end of the lake at your feet is formed by the root of Mangerton, on whose side the road leads.
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. ii. 58 La Motte ascended the stairs that led to the tower.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 122 My rambles led me to a gipsy's camp.
1861 Temple Bar 2 547 Broad steps lead down into a garden.
1884 J. Colborne With Hicks Pasha in Soudan 69 Then comes the eternal arid plain leading to the barren hills.
1889 C. Smith Repentance Paul Wentworth I. ix. 187 Their road..led them through a little copse.
b. intransitive. To form a channel into, a connecting link to (something).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > fact or action of being connected or connecting > connect [verb (transitive)] > make continuous (with) > so as to inosculate > communicate with
lead1833
1833 Act 3 & 4 William IV c. 46 §95 One waste or foul water pipe..to communicate with any drain..leading into a common sewer.
1851 Official Descriptive & Illustr. Catal. Great Exhib. II. 361 Motion is..communicated to the rudder by means of two connecting rods leading to the tiller.
c. intr. to lead to: to have as a result or consequence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > [verb (transitive)] > bring about as a consequence or entail
makeOE
haveOE
drawa1400
to draw inc1405
to leave behind1424
goc1449
to draw on1572
train1579
carry1581
beara1616
to lead toa1770
evolve1816
entail1829
mean1841
issue1842
subinduce1855
a1770 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) IV. vi. 119 Pride seldom leads to truth in points of morality.
1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) I. 277 The general disapprobation excited by the church on such weighty points, naturally led to a discussion of its other abuses.
1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 412 Several seizures of English cargoes led to reprisals on our part; reprisals led to a naval war.
1864 J. Bryce Holy Rom. Empire ii. 18 The victory of Tolbiac led to the submission of the Alemanni.
1885 Manch. Examiner 8 July 5/3 Mr. Beecher's former opinion that smoking leads to drinking.
7. to lead (a person) a dance: transferred and figurative, to put to the trouble of hurrying from place to place; hence, to compel to go through a course of irksome action. to lead (a person) a chase: lit. to give (a pursuer) trouble by one's speed or circuitous course; also figurative. Also (by association with sense 12) to lead a person a life.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > of difficulty: beset (a person) [verb (transitive)] > put (a person) in difficulty > make (one) go through a difficult action
to lead (a person) a dancea1545
to lead (a person) the measures1594
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > duping, making a fool of > befool, dupe [phrase]
to put an ape in a person's hoodc1330
to glaze one's houvec1369
to cough (a person) a daw, fool, momea1529
to make a fool of1534
to give (any one) the bobc1540
to lead (a person) a dancea1545
to make (someone) an ass1548
to make (a person) an ox1566
to play bob-fool witha1592
to sell any one a bargain1598
to put the fool on1649
to make a monkey (out) of1767
to play (a person) for a sucker (also fool, etc.)1869
to string (someone) along1902
to swing it on or across1923
the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)] > afflict > affect or visit with adversity
followOE
waryc1200
hita1400
remord?c1400
visit1424
to lead (a person) the measures1594
conflict1609
to lead a person a life1715
overhit1816
put1841
to put (a person) through it1855
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > change direction of movement of [verb (transitive)] > traverse in winding course > lead person in perplexing course
to lead, rarely give (a person) a dancea1545
to lead (a person) the measures1594
to lead (a person) a dance1861
a1545 Deth Edwarde IV in J. Skelton Certayne Bks. (c1563) 29 She [sc. Fortune] toke me by the hand and led me a daunce.
1599 H. Porter Pleasant Hist. Two Angrie Women of Abington sig. H2 I pray God they may..both be led a darke daunce in the night.
1607 T. Heywood Woman Kilde with Kindnesse sig. A4 Thats the dance her Husband meanes to leade her.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. iii. 44 Why he's able to leade her a Carranto. View more context for this quotation
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 89. ¶2 You know..my Passion for Mrs. Martha, and what a Dance she has led me.
1715 D. Defoe Family Instructor I. i. iv. 91 I'll lead her such a Life she shall have little Comfort of me.
1850 A. Jameson Legends Monastic Orders 70 They led St. Guthlac such a life, that [etc.].
1861 Temple Bar Dec. 53 He..often leads them a fine chace over hill and dale.
1883 G. M. Fenn Middy & Ensign xvii. 107 The chaps would lead him such a life.
1892 Cornhill Mag. July 15 How can the captain so forget himself as to lead them a paper chase?
1892 Sunday Mag. Aug. 509/2 She had led him the life of a dog.
8. With an inanimate thing as object.† d. To guide, steer (a boat); to guide, drive (a carriage; cf. French conduire); to guide (a pen). Obsolete.† f. To multiply (a number into another). Obsolete.
a. To conduct (water, occasionally steam) through a channel or pipe. Cf. Latin aquam ducere. Also with away, forth, off, out.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > conducting of water, etc., by channels or pipes > conduct (water, etc.) by channels or pipes [verb (transitive)]
leadc1275
derive1483
deduce1602
deduct1621
conduct1808
reconduct1825
canalize1886
bypass1909
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > lead or bring out
out-leadeOE
outbringeOE
forthbringc1000
leadc1275
wheel1970
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 7961 Þis wæter wes al ilæde [c1300 Otho was a-way idon].
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. v. 16 Ben lad out thi wellis withoute forth.
1842 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 3 ii. 273 Deep beds of peat, from which the water has been led off by open drains.
1865 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 2nd Ser. 1 ii. 276 Water may be led away from a hill~side and form a perennial stream of the greatest value.
1892 Chambers's Jrnl. 4 June 360/1 A dam and shoot were constructed..to lead the water away faster.
1893 Chambers's Jrnl. 28 Jan. 61/1 The steam..being led by a bamboo pipe to other vessels.
b. To guide the course or direction of (something flexible); †to train (a vine), †to trace (a line, a boundary); to draw or pass (a rope, etc.) over a pulley, through a hole, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > pass (something flexible) along, over, or through
leadc1050
pass1663
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > viticulture > [verb (transitive)] > graft vines
leada1398
vine1579
c1050 in Thorpe Dipl. Angl. 376 Þa ilcan þe him ær landgemære læddon.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. clxxvii. 1071 Þey [sc. vines]..mowe be ladde wiþ traylynge aboute hous and townes.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 569 The nose is blackish, a line being softly led through the length, and onely through the top of the outside thereof.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. 3 Ten small sticks, which let him that leadeth the Chain, carry in his Hand before.
1834 J. S. Macaulay Treat. Field Fortification 204 A charge is laid on the floor..and it is fired with a hose led outside.
1841 J. T. J. Hewlett Parish Clerk I. 79 Bleed and blister, lead a mane, dock a tail.
1869 C. Boutell tr. J. P. Lacombe Arms & Armour viii. 142 System of pulleys, over which strong cords are led.
1876 W. H. Preece & J. Sivewright Telegraphy 37 The insulated wire..is led up through the copper sulphate.
1885 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche i. xxv. 11 Olive-bordered clouds o'er lilac led.
1892 Longman's Mag. Nov. 88 Ropes..led through blocks fixed to stakes.
c. Nautical. intransitive. Of a rope: To admit of being ‘led’.
ΚΠ
c1860 H. Stuart Novices or Young Seaman's Catech. (rev. ed.) 38 The reef tackle leads through the upper sheave of the sister block.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Fair-lead, is applied to ropes as suffering the least friction in a block, when they are said to lead fair.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > steering > steer [verb (transitive)]
steera1122
stretchc1275
lead1377
stern1577
helm1607
rudder1856
steer1873
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > drive a vehicle [verb (transitive)] > drive a horse-drawn vehicle
driveOE
lead1377
tool1812
Jehu1822
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. ii. 179 Cartesadel the comissarie owre carte shal he lede.
c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 12 Lede þe boot into þe hey see.
c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame ii. 434 Pheton, wolde lede Algate his fader carte, and gye.
1430 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1554) v. vii. 127 To holde the plough and lede it with his hond.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope ii. xvi Of a carter whiche ladde a Charyot or carte whiche a Mule drewe forthe.
1552 H. Latimer Serm. St. Andrew's Day (1584) 241 Our Saviour..saith to Peter, Duc in altum—Lead thy boate into the deepe.
1567 R. Sempill in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. 33 With Romaine hand he could weill leid ane pen.
e. In literalisms of translation; = Latin ducere and its compounds.
ΚΠ
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Exod. xxvi. 37 Fyue pilers..before the whiche shal the tente be lad.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ezek. v. 1 Take to thee..rasour, shauynge heeris;..thou shalt lede it bi thin heed, and bi thi beerd.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Mark xiv. 47 Oon of men stondinge aboute, ledinge out a swerd, smot the seruaunt of the hiȝeste prest.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > perform arithmetic or algebraic operations [verb (transitive)] > multiply
multiplya1400
leadc1430
to multiply into1542
augment?a1560
draw1660
multiply1709
multiplicate1947
times1962
c1430 Art Nombryng (1922) 15 Lede the rote of o quadrat into the roote of the oþer quadrat, and þan wolle the meene shew.
c1430 Art Nombryng (1922) 17 A digit, the whiche lade in hymself cubikly [etc.].
a. To conduct (affairs); to manage, govern.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > follow (a course of behaviour) [verb (transitive)] > behave towards
ateec1000
leadc1175
makec1175
farec1230
beleadc1275
dightc1275
beseec1300
servec1300
treatc1374
usea1382
proceeda1393
demean1393
to deal witha1400
treatc1400
to do to ——a1425
entreat?a1425
handc1440
ferea1450
entertain1490
ray1509
to do unto ——?1523
tract1548
deal1573
to carry a strict (also severe, etc.) hand over (also upon, to)c1591
play1597
to comport with1675
to behave towards or to1754
usen1814
society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > manage or administer
steerc888
leadc1175
guyc1330
guidec1374
governa1382
ministera1382
treat1387
administer1395
dispose1398
skift?a1400
warda1400
solicit1429
to deal with1469
handlea1470
execute1483
convoy?a1513
conveyc1515
mayne1520
to bear (a person or thing) in (also an, a, on) handa1522
keepa1535
administrate1538
solicitate1547
to dispose of1573
manure1583
carry1600
manage1609
negotiate1619
conduct1632
to carry on1638
mesnage1654
nurse1745
work1841
operate1850
run1857
stage-manage1906
ramrod1920
society > authority > control > be in control [verb (intransitive)] > manage or administrate
administrate1567
lead1579
manage1603
carrya1616
conduct1677
to fix it1836
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 17238 To ledenn. a. þe bodiȝ rihht All affterr godess lare.
c1320 Cast. Love 306 Wiþ-outen þeos foure wiþ worschipe Mai no Kyng lede gret lordschipe.
?a1366 Romaunt Rose 400 She had no-thing hir-self to lede..More than a child of two yeer olde.
a1398 J. Trevisa in tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. 40 Þis game reule and lede And bringe hit to a good ende.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4256 Þan was ioseph bath luued and dred, Wit wisdom al his werkes ledd.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 38 Alexander ye king..Yat Scotland haid to steyr and leid.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. aiiv Ask leif at the lord yone landis suld leid.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 41 Gif thai heir not the Law, quhilk suld thame leide Than sall thay not in ony wayis beleif.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > behave or conduct oneself [verb (reflexive)]
wieldOE
leadc1175
bear?c1225
steera1250
to take onc1275
contain1297
to shift one's handa1300
demeanc1320
guyc1325
govern1340
keep1362
havec1390
rulec1390
guide14..
conceivea1425
maintain?a1425
maynea1425
behavec1440
disporta1450
orderc1487
use1497
handle?1529
convey1530
gesture1542
treat1568
carry1584
deport1598
bestow1606
comport1616
mienc1680
conduct1706
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1246 Ȝiff þu þe ledesst all wiþþ skill.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2301 Hu he sulden hem best leden.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8470 Hu þat he agh him for to lede.
c1480 (a1400) St. Theodora 833 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 123 In vertuise..he..sa can hyme-selfe leyde þat..þai..mad hyme abbot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > [verb (transitive)] > deal with or treat
leada1225
playc1400
steada1475
handle1483
a1225 Leg. Kath. 624 Hu me ham walde þreatin ant leaden unlaheliche.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13832 Þer weoren Rom-leoden reouliche. iledde.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4352 Heo weoren swiðe uuele ilæd [c1300 Otho bi-lad].
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. iii. 154 Heo ledeth the lawe as hire luste.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 13787 For so in sekenes am I-lad [Vesp. i stadd] Þat I ne may to þat watir wynne.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) iii. 81 Thise glotons that leden our folke so cursedly.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xx. 331 Whan he saugh the kynge Rion so euell I-ledde, it a-noyed hym sore.
II. To carry on.† 11. To engage or take part in, to perform (dances, songs), to utter (joyful or mournful) sounds. Cf. Latin ducere carmen, choros, German die reihen führen. Obsolete.A different sense of to lead a dance appears under sense 13.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > [verb (transitive)]
leadOE
dancec1300
foota1500
move1568
trip1627
morris1844
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > [verb (transitive)] > utter
leadOE
givec1175
tell?c1225
talkc1275
to set upa1325
to put outc1350
soundc1374
to give upc1386
pronouncea1393
cough1393
moutha1400
profera1400
forth withc1400
utterc1400
to put forth1535
display1580
vent1602
accent1603
respeak1604
vocalize1669
fetch1707
go1836
outen1951
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > have to do with or be involved in or with > take part in
leadOE
to take partc1384
to sit in1601
enter1603
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (transitive)]
singc825
leadOE
galea1000
record1483
chant1566
modulate?1567
carol?1578
strain1589
relish1592
lyrica1704
vocalize1782
lip1789
flute1842
OE Andreas (1932) 1477 Ac wæs eft swa ær þurh þa æðelan miht lof lædende, ond on his lice trum.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 28147 Caroles, iolites, and plaies, Ic haue be-haldyn and ledde in ways.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 699 Of ðis kinge wil we leden song.
c1325 Coer de L. 3739 The damyseles lede daunse.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Judith iii. 10 Ledende dauncis in trumpis and timbris.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1894 Ȝet is þe lorde on þe launde, ledande his gomnes.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xx. 446 I have seen Reynawd, Alard, guychard, & Rychard, ledyng grete ioye wyth grete company of knyghtes.
1493 Festivall (1515) 26 b Thou hast thyn armes spredde to lede karolles and daunces.
12. † b. To pass through (pain, suffering); to bear, endure.
a. To go through, pass (life, †a portion of time). Cf. Latin ducere vitam, Greek ἄγειν βίον, etc. Rarely, †To support life by (bread). †Also with forth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > [verb (transitive)]
leadc900
dreeOE
liveOE
traverse1477
inleadc1560
the world > action or operation > behaviour > way of life > lead one's life in specific way [verb (intransitive)]
leadc900
liveeOE
to live one's own life1833
the world > life > source or principle of life > [verb (transitive)] > sustain life
sustainc1330
lead?a1366
finda1450
sustentate1542
breast1573
subsist1612
to keep body (life) and soul togethera1616
preserve1694
to eke out1825
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)]
overdoOE
adreeOE
wreaka1300
to draw forthc1300
dispend1340
pass1340
drivea1375
wastec1381
occupyc1384
overpassa1387
to pass over ——a1393
usec1400
spend1423
contrive?a1475
overdrive1487
consumea1500
to pass forth1509
to drive off1517
lead1523
to ride out1529
to wear out, forth1530
to pass away?1550
to put offc1550
shiftc1562
to tire out1563
wear1567
to drive out1570
entertainc1570
expire1589
tire1589
outwear1590
to see out1590
outrun1592
outgo1595
overshoot1597
to pass out1603
fleeta1616
elapse1654
term1654
trickle1657
to put over1679
absorb1686
spin1696
exercise1711
kill1728
to get through ——1748
to get over ——1751
tickc1870
fill1875
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) iv. xxviii. [xxvii.] 360 Se ær in medmyclum ealonde, þæt is Farne nemned, ancorlif lædde.
a1000 Boeth. Metr. (Gr.) vii. 40 Forðon orsorg lif ealnig lædað woruldmen wise buton wendinge.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 89 God sette e þam israelisce folce hu heo sculden heore lif leaden.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9359 Þatt haffdenn ledd aȝȝ þeȝȝre lif. Affterr þe flæshess wille.
?a1366 Romaunt Rose 216 She..ladde hir lyf only by breed Kneden with eisel.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xvii. 18 That al here lyf leden in lowenesse and in pouerte.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 13279 Wit þair fissing war þai fedd, And pouer liuelade þar-wit þai ledd.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4027 He ledd his liue wit-vten blam.
c1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 232 To have another wyf, For to ledde with thy lif.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxiii. 32 Thus this lady ledde forth her lyfe ther mekely.
1569 J. Rogers Glasse Godly Love 178 Very few leade lyves..according to the lawes of Christe.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 83 He may at his leasure,..lead his Winter in Athens, his Summer in Naples, [etc.].
1612 H. Peacham Minerua Britanna i. 46 Heere sits Repentance, solitarie, sad,..As greeuing for the life, that she hath lad.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Chesh. 180 He led his old age in London.
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 166. ⁋2 The Tastless Manner of Life, which a Set of idle Fellows lead in this Town.
1819 G. Crabbe Tales of Hall II. xii. 6 They led in comfort a domestic life.
1820 J. Keats Lamia i, in Lamia & Other Poems 21 In Corinth..she..had led Days happy as [etc.].
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 13 That no human being should be at liberty to lead at his own pleasure an unaccountable existence.
1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country iii. 156 Do lead your own life and let ours alone!
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > suffer mental pain [verb (transitive)]
thave835
i-dreeeOE
tholec897
underbearc950
adreeOE
dreeOE
driveOE
i-tholeOE
throwOE
underfoc1000
bearOE
takec1175
bidec1200
suffera1250
leadc1330
drinka1340
endure1340
wielda1375
underfong1382
receivec1384
sustain1398
finda1400
undergoa1400
underganga1470
ponder?a1525
tolerate1531
to go through ——1535
to feel the weight of?1553
enjoy1577
carry1583
abrook1594
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 15 Suffre not Sir Frethebald long to lede þis pyne.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15703 Þe strang soru þat he ledd can na man rede in run.
c1475 Partenay 3785 Non knew the sorow by thaim lade and bore.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1054 Yt ys wyll the worse to lede.
III. To precede, be foremost. (Cf. sense 2)
13. figurative.1858 W. Greener Gunnery in 1858 300 If we take thirty or thirty-five yards' distance as an average, the latter will not ‘lead’ in the race.1891 Pall Mall Gaz. 20 Oct. 6/1 The small hats which are to lead for the coming season.
a. To have the first place in; to march in the front line of; literal and figurative esp. in to lead the dance (see dance n. 6), to lead the van.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > go in front of [verb (transitive)] > go at front of moving body
leadc1380
heada1522
spear-head1938
spear1951
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > go first or in front [verb (intransitive)]
foregoc825
to go beforec1225
preamble1402
to beat a path1589
to lead the waya1593
preambulate1598
anteambulate1623
antecede1628
to lead the van1697
to take the (or a) lead1768
lead1798
to lead off1806
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 360 Crist þat lediþ þe daunce of love.
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Custome of Countrey ii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Aa3v/1 They heard your Lordship Was by the Ladies choise to lead the dance.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ix, in tr. Virgil Wks. 465 Messapus leads the Van.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 565 Asylas leads the Chase.
1736 T. Lediard Life Marlborough I. 98 The Grenadiers..led the Van.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 81 May our country ever lead The world, for she is worthiest.
1865 J. R. Lowell Wks. (1890) V. 285 A commonwealth whose greatest sin it has been to lead the van in freedom of opinion.
1869 A. W. Ward tr. E. Curtius Hist. Greece II. iii. iii. 478 In ancient times the choregi themselves led the chorus.
1884 Graphic 23 Aug. Your cousin Gordon and I..had led the van all the morning.
1893 Harper's Mag. Feb. 385/2 Of the causes..pneumonia led the list.
b. absol. To go first, to have the first place. Also with off.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > go first or in front [verb (intransitive)]
foregoc825
to go beforec1225
preamble1402
to beat a path1589
to lead the waya1593
preambulate1598
anteambulate1623
antecede1628
to lead the van1697
to take the (or a) lead1768
lead1798
to lead off1806
1798 Capt. Millar Aug. in Ld. Nelson Disp. & Lett. (1846) VII. p. cliv The Goliath was leading, the Zealous next.
1846 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Wks. II. 228/1 The mounted slave..led off with his master's charger.
1892 Sat. Rev. 2 July 10/2 The boat..was leading by two hundred yards.
1900 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 789 The Admiral's frigate led.
14. intransitive.
a. Music. (See quot. 1880.)
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform music [verb (intransitive)] > take the lead
lead1880
1880 G. Grove Dict. Music Lead, to, in fugues or imitative music, is to go off first with a point or subject, which is afterwards taken up by the other parts successively. Thus in the Amen Chorus in the Messiah the bass ‘leads’.
b. Change-ringing. Of a bell: To have the ‘lead’ (see lead n.2 8a).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > bell-ringing > [verb (intransitive)] > go through all the changes > position in changes
lead1671
dodge1684
hunt1684
to make places1874
1671 Tintinnalogia 82 Every bell leads four times, and lies behind twice, except when [etc.].
15.
a. transitive. To direct by one's example; to set (a fashion); to take the directing or principal part in (proceedings of any kind); to be chief of (a party, a movement); to have the official initiative in the proceedings of (a deliberative body).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > lead
furec1540
subduce1609
ring-lead1617
manuduct1641
lead1642
manuduce1657
bear-lead1833
officer1839
van1852
skipper1883
spear-head1938
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iii. xxv. 228 They should rather lead a Fashion of thrift, than follow one of riot.
1697 J. Humfrey Righteousness God i. 2 The Trent Doctrine (which is the perfect Papists) I must confess, is lead them by St. Austine.
1841 W. Spalding Italy & Ital. Islands II. 266 The famous insurrection led by Masaniello.
1872 C. E. Maurice Life S. Langton i. 22 The Abbot..helped to lead the movement.
1880 C. R. Markham Peruvian Bark 335 The Government should retain the chinchona plantations, and continue to lead the cultivation.
1891 Sat. Rev. 31 Oct. 494/1 Disraeli still led the House of Commons.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 15 Sept. 7/1 He was able to lead the work himself.
1892 Eng. Illustr. Mag. 9 867 In conversation he seems rather to be led than to lead.
b. To take the directing part in (singing, a musical performance), to perform one's own part so as to guide the others; so to lead a band, to lead an orchestra. Similarly, to lead the prayers (of a congregation), to lead (a congregation) in prayer. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform (music) [verb (transitive)] > take the lead
lead1849
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > conducting > conduct [verb (transitive)] > lead band
lead1849
front1936
society > faith > worship > prayer > pray [verb (intransitive)] > conduct prayers
lead1880
1849 Chambers's Information for People (new ed.) II. 764/2 Sometimes a tenor voice will attempt to lead the trebles.
1859 G. A. Lawrence Sword & Gown v. 51 He is so very anxious to get Cecil to lead the singing in church.
1866 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighb. (1878) xiii. 245 This fine old church in which I was honoured to lead the prayers of my people.
1880 G. Smith Cowper iii. 41 Cowper himself was made to do violence to his intense shyness by leading in prayer.
1883 G. M. Fenn Middy & Ensign xxvi. 159 He..led the chorus, which was lustily trolled out by all present.
1891 Graphic 31 Oct. 518/3 He went to lead the orchestra at the concert.
1892 Harper's Mag. May 821/2 A woman..led the singing.
16. Of a barrister:
a. transitive. To act as leading counsel in (a cause); to act as leader to (another barrister); to take precedence of.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal profession > practice law [verb (transitive)]
lead1806
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. i. 12 Were I, however, employed to lead the cause on our side.
1883 J. H. Slater Guide Legal Prof. 17 Queen's Counsel are usually termed ‘Leaders’, and they sit in front of the utter Barristers, whom they are said to ‘lead’ in any particular case in which both are engaged.
1884 Law Times 11 Oct. 384/1 It has been the practice of English Queen's Counsel to lead colonial Queen's Counsel in appeals before the Judicial Committee.
b. absol. or intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal profession > practice law [verb (intransitive)] > practise at the bar > act as leading barrister
lead1861
1861 A. Trollope Orley Farm (1862) I. xxxiv. 268 Of course I must lead in defending her.
17. Cards.
a. intransitive. To play the first card in a round or trick. Also with off. Said also of the card. to lead to or up to: to play a card in order to bring out (cards held by another player). Also in indirect passive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > play at cards [verb (intransitive)] > actions or tactics
pass1599
pluck1606
pulla1625
to play high1640
to follow suit1643
to play at forsat1674
lead1677
overdrawc1805
stand1813
retract1823
underplay1850
to hold up1879
to throw in one's hand1893
build1901
build-down1983
1677 G. Miege New Dict. French & Eng. ii. sig. Dd4v/1 To lead (in Cards), jouër le premier.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Ombre The three first, or principal Trumps, are call'd Matadores; which have this Privilege, that they are not obliged to attend an inferior Trump when it leads.
1742 E. Hoyle Short Treat. Game Whist 11 When you lead, begin with the best Suit in your Hand.
1863 ‘Cavendish’ Princ. Whist (ed. 5) 75 You would often do better to..lead up to the weak suit of your right-hand adversary, or through the strong suit of your left-hand adversary.
1879 ‘Cavendish’ Card Ess. 110 Lead originally from your strongest suit.
1879 ‘Cavendish’ Card Ess. 165 He led off with his own strongest suit.
1892 Field 16 July 120/1 He was keeping his tenace to be led to.
b. transitive. As first player, to play (a specified card); to play one of (a suit or a specified suit). Also with out.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > play a card [verb (transitive)] > actions or tactics
to hold up?1499
decardc1555
to turn up1580
discard1591
pulla1625
to sit out1659
face1674
to make out1680
to lay out1687
to throw away1707
lead1739
weaken1742
carry1744
to take in1744
force1746
to show down1768
throw1866
blank1884
block1884
cover1885
unblock1885
pitch1890
1739 J. Swift Verses on Death Dr. Swift: Nov. 1731 12 I lead a Heart.
1742 E. Hoyle Short Treat. Game Whist ix. 21 Suppose..your right-hand Adversary leads that Suit.
1778 T. Jones Hoyle's Games Improved 90 Lead Punto.
1843 W. M. Thackeray Ravenswing v, in Fraser's Mag. Aug. 189/1 You led the club.
1879 ‘Cavendish’ Card Ess. 111 It is an excellent plan to lead out first one suit and then another.
1879 ‘Cavendish’ Card Ess. 171 I led knave of diamonds..The club was then led through me.
1879 ‘Cavendish’ Card Ess. 198 I led the king of trumps.
1891 Field 28 Nov. 843/1 He ought in any case to lead trumps.
Phrasal verbs
In idiomatic combination with adverbs. (For the non-specialized combinations, see the several senses and the adverbs.) to lead away to lead off to lead on to lead out absolute.1776 S. J. Pratt Pupil of Pleasure (1777) I. 172 The soft things he said, while we led out. to lead through to lead up
1. transitive. To induce to follow unthinkingly. Chiefly in passive: to yield to enthusiasm, to give credence to misrepresentation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > zeal or enthusiasm > be or become zealous [verb (intransitive)] > be easily excited to enthusiasm
to lead away1736
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade [verb (intransitive)] > be persuaded
come1607
to lead away1736
1736 T. Lediard Life Marlborough III. 163 Some Men are led away by the Spirit of Party.
1861 Temple Bar June 395 Grace is easily led away.
2. Nautical. to lead it away: to take one's course.
ΚΠ
1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 225 We led it away, with the Wind large, to the Maldives.
1. transitive. To ‘open’, take the first steps in (a dance, a ball); hence gen. to begin, make a beginning in; to open (a conversation or discussion). Const. with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > begin or open (an action or proceeding)
set?c1450
open1471
forward1598
initiate1604
to put in a way1624
to lead off1817
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > take part in ball [verb (transitive)] > open or start (the dance)
to lead up1731
to lead out1776
yark1818
to lead off1881
1817 J. Austen Sanditon vi, in Minor Wks. (1954) 389 Sir Edw: Denham & Miss Denham, whose names might be said to lead off the Season.
1847 Punch 27 Mar. 126/2 To lead off a list of Expiring Acts with one that is to live till the National Debt is paid off..is a delusion.
1881 E. Lynn Linton My Love! I. xiii. 229 The twins leading off the family ball.
1890 A. Gissing Village Hampden II. iv. 66 The dance..was led off to the popular strains of the ‘Keel-Row’.
1893 Illustr. London News 28 Jan. 109/2 A well-known dramatic critic led off the congratulations.
2. intransitive or absol. Also with to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > go first or in front [verb (intransitive)]
foregoc825
to go beforec1225
preamble1402
to beat a path1589
to lead the waya1593
preambulate1598
anteambulate1623
antecede1628
to lead the van1697
to take the (or a) lead1768
lead1798
to lead off1806
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > take part in ball [verb (intransitive)] > be first to dance
to begin, lead the dancec1325
to dance provoa1687
to lead off1806
1806 R. Cumberland Mem. 18 On some occasions, she would persist in a determined taciturnity, to the regret of the company present; and at other times would lead off in her best manner.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. iii. v. 383 I led off with five or six coxcomical bows.
1862 Temple Bar 4 500 The primo tenore..leads off with ‘Hard times no more’.
1882 R. L. Stevenson Familiar Stud. Men & Bks. 267 A boy of fifteen to lead off with a lass of seventeen.
1893 Harper's Mag. Jan. 210/2 He led off with his companion in a sort of quickstep.
1911 Chambers's Jrnl. July 463/2 From these [wagons] rubber tubes protected by encircling wire lead off to each of the streets.
1. transitive. To induce gradually to advance; to entice or beguile into going to greater lengths.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade gradually
to lead ona1616
thread1709
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) ii. i. 91 Giue him a show of comfort in his Suit, and lead him on with a fine baited delay. View more context for this quotation
1833 J. Keble Serm. (1848) vi. 141 She will continually be led on from bad to worse.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. vi. 115 I've led her on to tell her secret.
1891 Mrs. Henniker Sir George vi. 113 Don't pretend, now, you didn't encourage and lead me on.
2. intransitive. To direct conversation to a subject.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > conversation > converse [verb (intransitive)] > direct conversation to a subject
turna1413
to lead on1891
1891 F. W. Robinson Her Love & his Life III. vi. ix. 195 Mike led on to the one subject which engrossed him.
1. transitive. = to lead off at Phrasal verbs. Also, to conduct (a partner) to the dance.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > take part in ball [verb (transitive)] > open or start (the dance)
to lead up1731
to lead out1776
yark1818
to lead off1881
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > take part in ball [verb (transitive)] > lead out partner
to take out1604
to take out1604
to lead out1859
the mind > emotion > love > courtship or wooing > court or woo [verb (transitive)] > make or have a date with > conduct (someone) to the dance
to lead out1859
1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor viii, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 115 The picture of auld Sir Malise Ravenswood came down on the ha' floor, and led out the brawl before them a'.
1859 C. Reade Love me Little (1868) xiv. 190 The stable-boy..leading out one of the housemaids..proceeded to country dancing.
2. intransitive. Of cattle: to set out when driven.
ΚΠ
1903 A. Adams Log of Cowboy xx. 129 The cattle led out as if walking on a wager.
Mountaineering. Said of two climbers: to act alternately as leaders (see quots.). Hence leading through n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > mountaineering or climbing > [noun] > actions
glissading1832
rock climb1861
glissade1862
traversea1877
step cutting1884
hand traverse1897
conquest1902
bouldering1920
lay-back1925
soloing1929
hand-jamming1937
safing1937
rappelling1938
leading through1945
pendulum1945
free-climbing1946
laybacking1955
pendule1957
finger jam1959
jumar1966
jam1967
prusiking1968
jumaring1971
free solo1977
redpoint1986
mantel1987
crimping1990
1945 G. W. Young Mountain Craft (ed. 4) v. 184 Nowadays, two such experts..make a practice of ‘leading through’: that is..the second man on reaching his leader climbs straight on past him and leads the next section.
1955 M. E. B. Banks Commando Climber ix. 177 We were leading through, that is to say, one of us would climb a pitch and belay himself to the rock, whereupon the other would climb up to him and then continue beyond to lead the next pitch.
1970 A. Blackshaw Mountaineering (rev. ed.) v. 143 For experienced climbers two is the best number since this is quick and allows them to ‘lead through’.
1970 A. Blackshaw Mountaineering (rev. ed.) xvii. 420 Leading through may not save as much time on alpine rock as it does on British rock.
1. transitive. = to lead off at Phrasal verbs ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > ball or dance > take part in ball [verb (transitive)] > open or start (the dance)
to lead up1731
to lead out1776
yark1818
to lead off1881
1731 Lady M. W. Montagu Farewell to Bath in Poems v I've led up many a ball.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison VI. xxvii. 166 What a frolic dance will she and her new husband, in a little while, lead up.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. ix. 82 Mr. Thornhill and my eldest daughter led up the ball.
1804 M. Edgeworth Limerick Gloves iii, in Pop. Tales I. 260 She did not object to her own Jenny's leading up the ball.
2. intr. to lead up to: to prepare gradually for: to form a gradual preparation for.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)] > form a preparation for
to lead up to1861
1861 Temple Bar Dec. 101 The circumstances which led up to the explosion of the..conspiracy.
1880 J. McCarthy Hist. our Own Times III. xlv. 381 Perhaps he had deliberately led up to this very point.
1892 B. F. Westcott Gospel of Life Pref. 22 All earlier history leads up to the Incarnation.
1892 Sat. Rev. 2 Jan. 16/2 The harlequinade..is led up to by a tasteful transformation scene.
Draft additions 1997
Boxing. To make an attacking punch; to make the first of a series of punches. Frequently const. with. Cf. lead n.2 5c.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > box [verb (intransitive)] > actions
lunge1809
weave1818
counter1857
lead1895
slip1897
unload1912
smother1916
to bob and weave1928
1895 T. Roosevelt Wks. (1926) XIV. 205 If you are going to ‘lead freely’ you have got to ‘take punishment’, if you will allow me to speak in the language of those who box.
1927 D. Hammett in Black Mask Feb. 28/1 A paluka who leads with his right.
1935 Encycl. Sports, Games & Pastimes 105/1 When a beginner is directed by his instructor to lead to the body, it is no use his aiming a blow at his antagonist's chest.
1952 Amateur Boxing (‘Know the Game’ Ser.) 16/1 As he leads, parry his right towards your right with the left and then lead with a right swing to head or body.
Draft additions 1997
Law. To ask (a witness) leading questions. Cf. sense to lead on 1 at Phrasal verbs below. Chiefly U.S.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > trying or hearing of cause > try or hear cause [verb (transitive)] > examine judicially > ask (a person) leading questions
lead1833
1833 A. Alison Practice Criminal Law Scotl. xiii. 545 Witnesses are to be examined without being led.
1899 Southwestern Reporter 50 124/1 It..enables the examiner to lead even an honest witness in such manner as to give to the testimony a false color.
1973 Times 17 Oct. 20/3 The police sergeant..was..slapped down by the clerk of the court for leading his witnesses.
1983 Southern Reporter (U.S.) CDXXXVI. 479/1 Ordinarily, leading questions are permitted on cross-examination, and the rule against leading one's own witness is relaxed.
Draft additions 1997
a. transitive. Sport. To be ahead of (another team or player) in terms of points, goals, etc. Usually const. by. Also transferred, to exceed or outnumber by a specified margin.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > win, lose, or score [verb (transitive)] > score > be ahead of
lead1877
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > make numerous [verb (transitive)] > outnumber
outnumber1598
overcounta1616
overnumber1645
supernumerate1657
outman1694
swamp1818
lead1979
1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 449/2 At 800 yards the Massachusetts men held steadily, Wemyss leading with 71, Jackson and Law 70.
1907 C. E. Mulford Bar-20 xi. 120 In this contest Hopalong Cassidy led his nearest rival..by twenty cut-outs.
1946 Times 26 June 2/3 The Dutch pair, after missing a set point when leading by six games to five, finally secured the first set at 9–7.
1979 Amer. Speech 54 73 In another study..will led shall in frequency of occurrence by only 59 percent to 41 percent.
1989 Daily Tel. 6 July 35 (heading) Northants, with seven wickets standing, lead Kent by 90 runs.
b. intransitive. Of a newspaper or other journalistic media: to use a particular item as the main story. Const. †upon, with.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > broadcasting > putting on or producing broadcast > put on or produce broadcast [verb (intransitive)] > main story
lead1907
society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [verb (intransitive)] > of journal: use idea as main story
lead1907
1907 Daily Chron. 5 Mar. 6/7 The case was of an entrancing subtlety;..and every newspaper ‘led’ upon the result.
1986 Times 23 July 16/6 For Princess Margaret's wedding The Times, under a notoriously uncourtierly editor, did not even lead with the story.
1990 A. Gordon Safe at Home iii. 14 There was nothing about the latest murder, which had been discovered after the morning edition deadline, but the 7:00 CBC Radio news led with it.
Draft additions June 2015
intransitive. Mountaineering and Rock Climbing. To climb in first place while being belayed, with the responsibility of ascending a route or pitch and of placing gear or protection, or of attaching a rope to preplaced gear. Also transitive: to climb (a route, grade of route, etc.) in this way. Cf. second v.1 1e.In traditional climbing or trad climbing the lead climber places the gear; in sport climbing the lead climber uses preplaced gear.
ΚΠ
1899 Climbers' Club Jrnl. Feb. 104 The usual modesty about who has to lead is discussed and settled as the climb up the first pitch is completed.
1912 Sc. Mountaineering Club Jrnl. Feb. 26 Ling, who was leading, then strode over to a foothold, which gave an awkward position, but here..one had a really good belay.
1920 G. W. Young Mountain Craft i. 40 To lead and choose the line is definitely more fatiguing than to follow.
1975 Climber & Rambler Apr. 154/1 At that time, 1955, you were regarded as pretty good if you could lead VS and the harder climbs were guarded by an aura of difficulty.
1989 N.Y. Times 31 Dec. sm43/1 I had tried leading it. I knew you had to totally commit to doing the moves, otherwise the chance of surviving would be minimal.
2008 A. Richardson Rock Climbing (2009) 15 Learning to lead is exhilarating, yet daunting.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
leadv.2
/lɛd/, U.S. /lɛd/ a. To make (something) of lead. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1420 Pallad. on Husb. ix. 175 Or pipis hit to condit me may lede.
b. To make dull and heavy as lead. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > be or become wearied or bored with [verb (transitive)] > make wearisome or tedious
leadc1430
stale1601
wooden1641
cool1665
flatten1693
mustify1828
woodenize1877
leaden1899
dehydrate1957
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) ii. xc. 109 With this ax I dulle and lede [Fr. j'assomme..et aplomme] the clerkes at cherche.
2. To cover with lead. Also with over.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > other metalworking processes
burnishc1325
rockc1400
leadc1440
braze1552
run1650
stratify1669
shingle1674
snarl1688
plate1706
bar1712
strake1778
shear1837
pile1839
matt1854
reek1869
bloom1875
siliconize1880
tumble1883
rustproof1886
detin1909
blank1914
anodize1931
roll1972
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > coat or cover with metal > with specific metal
tin1398
leadc1440
ironc1450
lay1472
copper1530
braze1552
silverize1605
foliate1665
plate1686
whiten1687
foil1714
blanch1729
quicken1738
amalgam1789
quick1790
aluminize1791
plate1791
zincify1801
platinize1825
resilver1832
galvanize1839
electroplate1843
zinc1843
electro-silver1851
platinate1858
electrotin1859
white-lead1863
palladiumize1864
white-metal1864
brassc1865
nickelize1865
nickel-plate1872
nickel1875
stopper1884
electro1891
sherardize1904
steel1911
stellite1934
flame-plate1954
steel-face1961
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 292/2 Leedyn wythe leed, plumbo.
1479 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 53 A new rooff to the churche of Euston and ledyd.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 604/2 I leede, I cover a thing, or a rofe of a house, with leede.
1552 in W. Page Inventories Church Goods York, Durham & Northumberland (1897) 10 And the quier all leadid.
1646 R. Butcher Surv. & Antiq. Stamford ix. 33 Iane Cecell..leaded and paved the Fryday-Market Crosse in Stamford.
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions 40 Sent away naked (saving in her Keel, which was Leaded).
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. ii. 316 The Carpenters..caulked all the seams..and leaded them over.
1826 W. Scott Woodstock II. v. 124 We gained the very roof..which was in part leaded.
1862 G. G. Scott Rep. in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) II. 328 I have introduced a timber leaded flèche as a belfry.
3. To arm, load, or weight with lead.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > weight or relative heaviness > weight [verb (transitive)] > make heavy > add weight to > weight with lead, etc.
plumbc1450
lead1481
load1801
shot1857
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 17 A croked staf wel leded on thende for to playe at the balle.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 191 b/2 They bete this holy man with..Scourges leded.
1653 T. Barker Art of Angling 11 Lead the shank of your hook.
1787 T. Best Conc. Treat. Angling (ed. 2) 12 The line should always be leaded according to the rapidity, or quietness of the river you angle in.
1843 C. J. Lever Jack Hinton xxv. 172 I..seated myself in the scale..and my saddle being leaded to the required weight, the operation took not a minute.
4.
a. To fix (glass of a window) with leaden cames. Also with in, up.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > build or provide with specific parts [verb (transitive)] > provide with windows > fix (glass)
lead1530
stop1533
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 604/2 I wyll leed no mo wyndowes, it is to costely.
1626 F. Bacon New Atlantis 22 in Sylua Syluarum A carued Window of Glasse, leaded with Gold and blew.
1885 F. Miller Glass-painting vii. 69 Where very small pieces of glass have to be leaded in the finest or ‘string’ lead can be used.
1886 R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. I. 443 The glass [of the windows] was new leaded.
1899 J. W. Mackail Life W. Morris II. 42 The glass was burned and leaded up.
b. To set or fasten in firmly with molten lead.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > set with molten lead
leaden1552
lead1793
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) 274 The next day..Course XXIX. was set, and its circular chain leaded in also.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > pottery-making or ceramics > make pottery [verb (transitive)] > glaze
glazec1400
lead1558
smear1839
salt glaze1968
1558 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli Secretes Alexis of Piemount f. 73 Boyle them together in an earthen panne or potte leaded.
1594 H. Plat Diuers Chimicall Concl. Distillation 30 in Jewell House Great stone pottes that bee leaded within.
1611 Bible (King James) Ecclus. xxxviii. 30 He [the potter] applieth himselfe to lead it ouer. View more context for this quotation
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. iii. 123 After the vessels are painted, they lead them, with that sort of Lead-Ore they cal Smithum, which is the smallest Ore of all, beaten into dust, finely sifted and strewed upon them.
6. Printing. To separate the lines of type by interposing leads (see lead n.1 8).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > preparatory processes > composing > compose [verb (transitive)] > separate with leads
lead1841
1841 W. Savage Dict. Art of Printing 179 When a work is double leaded.
1852 W. Wilks Hist. Half Cent. Pref. Twenty-three sheets of bourgeois leaded.
1875 J. Southward Dict. Typogr. (ed. 2) 70 Lead out—a direction given in order that leads may be put between lines of matter.
7. intransitive. Nautical. To use the lead; to take soundings.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > other nautical operations > [verb (intransitive)] > sound depth
soundc1485
to fly the blue pigeon1781
lead1858
1858 C. Kirton in Mercantile Marine Mag. 5 246 He would..sooner haul off the land out of soundings, than run..close in and lead.
8. passive and intransitive. Of a gun-barrel: To become foul with a coating of lead.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > discharge firearms [verb (intransitive)] > foul
lead1875
1875 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports (ed. 12) i. i. xi. §6. 47 If either gun has its barrels leaded..the scratch-brush must be used till the lead is removed.
1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 130 The barrel also leads very quickly.
9. transitive. To smooth the inside of (a gun-barrel) with a lap of lead (see lap n.4 b).
ΚΠ
1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 146 When once rifled, the barrel cannot—as in the Henry, Ratchet, and other riflings—be leaded or otherwise regulated, except with the rifling machine.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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v.1c825
v.2c1420