leadern.1
/ˈliːdə/, U.S. /ˈlidər/ I. One who leads.
1. † b. One who has the charge of (animals).† c. The driver of a vehicle. Obsolete.
a. gen. in various senses of the verb: One who conducts, precedes as a guide, leads a person by the hand or an animal by a cord, etc. Also with adverbs, as leader-away, leader-on, for which see the corresponding verbal phrases. follow my leader: see follow v. Phrases 5.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > [noun] > one who guides or leads
way-witterc1275
leadera1300
lodesmanc1300
predecessora1325
guide1362
duistre1393
conduct1423
way-leaderc1450
guiderc1475
conductor1481
leadsmanc1510
janissary1565
Palinurus1567
forerunner1576
convoy1581
mercury1592
pilota1635
accompanier1753
runner1867
a1300 E.E. Psalter liv. 14 Mi leder, and mi kowth sa gode.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 1454 (1482) Oon thynketh þe bere But al a-nother thynketh his ledere.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xv. 14 Thei ben blynde, and lederis of blynde men.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) xii. viii. 418 Curlewes haue guydes and ledars as cranes haue for they drede the goshawke.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 5675 Withouten ledar nedit he [a man struck blind] To abyde behynd.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vii. 20 He suld ger Bath the sleuthhund & the ledar Tyne the sleuth men ger him ta.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid i. xi. 5 Blyithlie following his ledair Achates.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Leder awaye, abductor.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iii. ii. 2 You were wont to be a follower, but now you are a Leader . View more context for this quotation
1633 J. Ford Broken Heart i. ii. sig. B4 Without Reason; Voycing the Leader-on a Demi-god.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 451 Leader to free Enjoyment of our right as Gods. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 112 Ample Plains..Where oft the Flocks, without a Leader stray. View more context for this quotation
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xiii. 112 Follow your leader, boys, and take pattern by Smike if you dare.
1861 J. Edmond Children's Church at Home i. 17 Christ is..a leader to all that trust him.
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the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > herding, pasturing, or confining > [noun] > herding > herdsman or woman
herdc725
herdmanc1000
lookera1225
tripherd1305
hogger1327
pastorc1400
pastorelc1440
leader1495
pasture-man1547
herd-maid1588
herdsman1603
pastoral1607
feeder1611
creaght1634
herder1635
keep1641
creaghter1653
town herd1760
herd-boy1799
stock-keeper1806
senn1826
herd-girla1856
herd-laddie1865
pastoralist1879
1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 34 §4 The office of the Maistershippe of the leder of the Dere of the parke of Okeley.
ΚΠ
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21283 Bath wise and war es þat leder.
d. dialect. A carter.
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society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > driver or operator of vehicle > [noun]
driver?c1450
leader1497
Jehu1694
wagoner1841
car boy1843
pilot1926
1497 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) I. 355 Item, to the sand ledaris, xviijs.
1548 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1871) II. 141 That na maner of persouns ledares of burne tak [etc.].
1847 Sheffield Indep. (E.D.D.) A coal leader.
1887 D. Donaldson Jamieson's Sc. Dict. Suppl. (at cited word) Until comparatively late years the occupation of water-carrier was followed by a large number of men and women, some carried by hand..; some by barrow..; and some by cart—those were the leaders.
1888 S. O. Addy Gloss. Words Sheffield Leader, a carter. ‘A coal leader’.
2. One who leads a body of armed men; a commander, a captain.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > [noun]
heretogac900
marshal1258
chevetaine1297
chieftainc1330
arrayerc1370
governora1382
master of (the) chivalrya1382
leadera1387
war-headlinga1400
emperorc1400
captain1450
conductor1483
grand captain1531
commendador1580
lodesman1581
conducta1592
commander1598
induperator1599
war-captain1610
war-chief1610
war-leader1610
most mastera1616
commandant1687
commandant-general1827
baron1919
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 217 The oost of þe Gothes was i-slawe in Thuscia, and here ledere Ragadasius was i-take.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7630 And of a thusand men o wal He made him [sc. David] ledder and marscal.
c1400 tr. Secreta Secret, Gov. Lordsh. 108–9 Off lederes off ostes and here ordinaunce..Folwe þanne vche comandour tene vicaires, & vche vicaire tene lederes, & vche ledere tene denys.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 143 Our leidar is gayne. Amang our fays he is set him allayne.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. i. 143 A worthy Leader, wanting ayd, Vnto his dastard foe-men is betray'd. View more context for this quotation
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 715 Sir Horace Vere..performed the duty, both of a good Leader and Souldier.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth xii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 314 All this day..they will gather to their leader's standard.
1848 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 III. i. 20 Detachments of troops were..sent..to secure the leaders.
3. † b. Phrases. leader of laws: one who has power in the state, a ruler. leader of hail: a guide to salvation. Obsolete.
a. One who guides others in action or opinion; one who takes the lead in any business, enterprise, or movement; one who is ‘followed’ by disciples or adherents; the chief of a sect or party. †In early use occasionally a chieftain, governor. Leader of the House of Commons: the member of the government who has the official initiative in the proceedings of the House; (see also quot. 19641); frequently elliptical as Leader of the House; so Leader of the House of Lords (or of the Upper House).
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society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > leader
lattewc825
lodera1325
chieftainc1386
foreleadera1400
bellwetherc1430
aurigac1460
leader1489
Moses1528
ringleader1548
general1582
foreman1603
coryphaeus1633
foreheada1641
senator1656
father1771
o-muraji1869
simba1964
neta1984
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > governor of province, dependency, or colony > local or district governor > [noun]
leader1489
nomarch1656
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > English or British parliament > [noun] > Member of Parliament > Leader of House of Commons
Leader of the House1835
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > English or British parliament > [noun] > Member of Parliament > Leader of House of Lords
Leader of the House of Lords (or of the Upper House)1852
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 660 Angus..wes.. lord and ledar off Kyntyr.
1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 7 The seid..principall or principallis leder or leders that unlaufully cause the seid people to gedre or rise.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 515/2 The leaders and maisters of the christen fayth.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. i. vii. f. 19v To be ledar, techar, and direckar of the same kirk.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 213 For his brotheris caus he was cheif leider of the ring.
1666 W. Temple Let. to Sir W. Godolphin in Wks. (1713) II. 18 The Duke of Albuquerque you will find..no great Leader in Council or Business.
1721 J. Swift Let. to Young Gentleman 11 Demosthenes and Cicero..each of them a Leader..in a popular State.
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I II. xi. 269 A genius so commanding and so turbulent, was fitted to be the leader of a party.
1835 Ann. Reg. 1834 Hist. Europe 335/2 It was requisite to find a new chancellor of the Exchequer, and a new leader of the House of Commons.
1841–4 R. W. Emerson Manners in Wks. (1906) I. 208 If the people should destroy class after class, until two men only were left, one of these would be the leader.
1852 B. Disraeli Ld. G. Bentinck xx. 397 The government abandoned this..project..scarcely with decency, for the leader of the house of lords was eulogizing its virtues..at the moment it was cast away by the chancellor of the exchequer.
1852 Ld. Palmerston Let. 24 Dec. in J. Russell Later Corr. (1925) II. xx. 119 If the extensive duties of Leader of the House of Commons can be performed without salary why should any public officer have any?
1855 Ld. Palmerston Let. 7 Feb. in Queen Victoria Lett. (1907) III. xxiv. 131 Proposed cabinet... Organ of the Government or Leader of the House of Lords. Marquis of Lansdowne.
1868 C. D. Yonge Life 2nd Earl of Liverpool I. iv. 145 According to the usage of that day, when the Prime Minister was a Commoner, the Home Secretary, if a peer, was the leader of the Upper House.
1869 A. Todd On Parl. Govt. in Eng. II. iv. 323 The leader of the House of Commons is at liberty to arrange the order of business appointed for government nights as he thinks fit.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §5. 500 The leaders in the country party..were thrown into prison.
1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. ii. ii. 187 Circumstances independent of himself could alone have raised him into a leader of a party.
1908 A. E. Steinthal tr. J. Redlich Procedure House of Commons I. 120 The name and function of the chief member of the Government in the House of Commons, the Leader of the House.
1964 L. A. Abraham & S. C. Hawtrey Parl. Dict. (ed. 2) 111 The term ‘Leader of the House’ was originally applied to the chief spokesman for the Government in the House of Commons when the Prime Minister was a member of the House of Lords.
1964 L. A. Abraham & S. C. Hawtrey Parl. Dict. (ed. 2) 111 The Leader of the House receives no salary as such... His chief responsibility is for planning and supervising the Government's legislative programme, and in particular for the arrangement..of the business of the House.
1964 L. A. Abraham & S. C. Hawtrey Parl. Dict. (ed. 2) 112 The Leader of the House of Lords is the chief spokesman for the Government in that House.
1974 Guardian 30 Apr. 1/4 A statement from Mr Short, Leader of the House, on the registration of interests is promised later this week, but there are deep differences between the parties over whether the register should be compulsory or voluntary.
1974 Guardian 30 Apr. 1/4 A promised personal statement by Mr Short, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the House of Commons, was delayed by several hours last night.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > [noun]
waldendeOE
prince?c1225
ordainerc1300
tyranta1340
prefecta1382
rulera1382
wieldera1382
corner of the people1382
lordshipperc1384
governora1393
moderatora1398
wieldinga1400
leader of lawsc1400
regent1415
governailc1440
dominatorc1450
reignera1464
regnanta1500
gubernator1522
despot1562
shepherd1577
swayer1598
Sophy1599
most mastera1616
Govr.1620
Gov.1630
archon1735
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1307 He..hatz..þe lederes of her lawe layd to þe grounde.
c1440 York Myst. xxx. 55 O leder of lawis.
c1480 (a1400) St. Peter 674 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 26 And þu [Paul], dere brothir, far wele ay..lledar of heile and saweoure.
a1605 A. Montgomerie Sonnets (1887) xxi. 1 My lords, late lads, nou leidars of our lauis.
c. A counsel who ‘leads’ (see lead v.1 16) in the conduct of a case before the court; a barrister whose status (in England, that of a King's Counsel) entitles him to ‘lead’. Also, the senior counsel of a circuit.
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society > law > legal profession > lawyer > [noun] > counsellor, barrister, or advocate > leading counsel
leading counsel1855
leader1856
society > law > legal profession > lawyer > [noun] > counsellor, barrister, or advocate > barrister on circuit > senior counsel of circuit
leader1856
1856 W. Collins Rogue's Life v He had engaged the leader of the circuit to defend me.
1878 W. W. R. Ball Student's Guide to Bar 44 At the trial itself he will generally have a ‘leader’ on whom the conduct of the case will wholly depend.
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.
d. The foremost or most eminent member (of a profession); also, in wider sense, a person of eminent position and influence.
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the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > one who is important > one who has influence
substantial1548
men of light and leading1790
big fish1827
big1833
sommité1856
leader1858
baron1876
heavyweight1889
Big Daddy1898
uncrowned king (queen)1917
big boy1921
top gun1941
society > authority > power > influence > [noun] > one who or that which influences > influential person
genius1749
influence1775
godfather1830
influential1831
influentiality1841
sommité1856
leader1858
Big Daddy1898
macher1911
uncrowned king (queen)1917
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table in Atlantic Monthly Mar. 624/1 Judges, mayors..leaders in science..were represented in that meeting.
1884 Illustr. London News 1 Nov. 410/3 Here is Mr. F. Archer, the leader of his profession.
e. spec. as a rendering of German Führer, Italian Duce, or Spanish Caudillo: the head of an authoritarian state. Usually with capital initial. Also transferred (in quot. 1934 applied to the leader of the British Fascists, Sir Oswald Mosley).
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society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > [noun] > of authoritarian state
leader1918
Duce1923
Reichsführer1933
Führer1934
caudillo1939
vozhd1940
1918 W. H. Hudson Far Away & Long Ago viii. 130 The greatest and most interesting of all the South American Caudillos or leaders.
1934 H. G. Wells Exper. in Autobiogr. II. ix. 783 Quite a quantity of pleasant boys and nice young men.. were acting as ushers, selling idiotic songs about their glorious Leader.
1937 A. Huxley Ends & Means i. 2 The twentieth [century] has already witnessed..the emergence of the sheep-like social man and the god-like Leader.
1939 S. Spender tr. E. Toller Pastor Hall i. 48 I've never spoken a word against the Leader.
1952 A. Bullock Hitler iii. 123 There was persistent..grumbling at the amount of money the Leader and his friends took out of Party funds for their own expenses.
1960 H. Seton-Watson Neither War nor Peace viii. 226 The head of the government was the Chancellor, Adolf Hitler, who was also Leader (Führer) of the party, and on the death of President Hindenburg in 1934 replaced him as Head of State with the title of Leader of the German Nation.
4. One who leads a choir or band of dancers, musicians, or singers. leader of praise (Scottish) = precentor n.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > conductor or leader > [noun] > leader of band
ductor15..
leader1530
drum major1689
choragus1727
band-leader1894
front man1937
name bandleader1958
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > conductor or leader > [noun] > leader of orchestra
concertmaster1773
leader1786
sub-conductor1836
orchestra leader1843
professor1914
lead1934
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 238/1 Leeder of a daunce, auant dancevr.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 141 Wee must follow the leaders . View more context for this quotation
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music Leader, a performer who in a concert takes the principal violin, receives the time and style of the several movements from the conductor, and communicates them to the rest of the band.
1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany xvi. 269 The leader, as in our village churches, was evidently a person of immense importance.
1892 Glasgow Herald 22 Apr. 2/2 Leader of Praise Wanted.
1900 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 51/1 The leader trills ahead in runs and shakes up and down the scale.
5. Among Methodists, the presiding member of a ‘class’ (see class n. 12b). Usually class-leader.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > various Christian superiors > [noun] > Methodist
leader1743
1743 Wesley Nat. United Societies in Wks. (1872) VIII. 270 There are about twelve persons in every class; one of whom is styled the Leader.
1791 J. Hampson Mem. J. Wesley III. 82 Each society is divided into companies of ten or fifteen, called classes; each of which regularly meets the leader once a week.
6.
a. The first man in a file, one in the front rank, one of the foremost in a moving body. In Surveying, the foremost carrier of the chain.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [noun] > foremost part or position in moving company > person at front of
leader1604
1604 C. Edmondes Maner of Mod. Training in Observ. Cæsars Comm. II. 130 Euery one is especially to acknowledge his leader or foremost man to be the author of all his motions.
1616 J. Bingham tr. Ælian Tactiks v. 42 Hee, that leadeth the file, who is also called the file-leader.
1627 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman (rev. ed.) xvi*. 221 The men in the Fyle are to be distinguished by the names of Leaders, Bringers up and Middle-men.
1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 26 The file leaders preserve such distances as they ought from which ever hand they are to dress to.
1848 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. (rev. ed.) iv. viii. 233 Most people require a..file-leader.
1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. vii. 165 The leaders are busy making casts into the fields on the left and right.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xxv. 188 Another person was sent forward, who drew himself up by the rope which was attached to the leader.
b. One of the front horses in a team, or the front horse in a tandem.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by purpose used for > [noun] > draught-horse > team of > lead horse in
fore-horse1480
leader1699
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by purpose used for > [noun] > draught-horse > that pulls vehicle > team of three > member of
leader1699
pin-horse1877
flanker1879
pin1879
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Leaders..the Fore-horses in Coaches and Teams.
1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 254 With pack-horse constancy we keep the road..True to the jingling of our leader's bells. View more context for this quotation
1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 1191 He was a capital horse, the off-leader.
1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities i. ii. 3 The near leader violently shook his head.
1885 J. Ruskin Præterita I. vi. 182 If the horses were young..there was a postillion for the leaders also.
7.
a. Cards. The first player in a round; also, one who ‘leads’ from a particular suit.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > [noun] > card-player > first, last, etc., player
eldest hand1599
younger hand1669
youngest hand1674
leader1677
fourth1803
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > [noun] > card-player > leader of specific suit
leader1677
1677 G. Miege New Dict. French & Eng. ii. sig. Dd4v/2 A leader, in Cards, celui que jouë le premier.
1742 E. Hoyle Short Treat. Game Whist xiii. 28 If the Leader of that Suit, or his Partner, have the long Trump.
1876 A. Campbell-Walker Correct Card Gloss. p. xii Leader, the first to play each round.
b. Curling. The first player: cf. lead n.2 5a.
ΚΠ
1789 D. Davidson Thoughts Seasons 166 Next Robin o' Mains, a leader good, Close to the witter drew.
II. A thing which leads.
8.
a. gen.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > leader > thing as
leaderc1290
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 33/124 Þe steorre gan softe to glide forth, also it were þene way to teche... Þe Abbot Anourede his ledare.
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. lxi. 143 Þe crosse is þe lif of a gode monke, & þe leder to paradise.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions Ep. Ded. sig. ijv It is an argument which craueth consideration, bycause it is the leader to a further consequence.
b. colloquial. A remark or question intended to lead conversation (cf. feeler n. 5a).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > [noun] > sounding out > instrument of
sounder1587
voice-asker1593
draw1811
feeler1823
leader1882
1882 C. E. L. Riddell Prince of Wales's Garden-party 34 ‘And what did you make of them over the dish of tea?’ suggested the young man as a leader.
c. Commerce (originally U.S.) = leading article n. 2 cf. loss leader n. at loss n.1 Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > merchandise > article(s) to be sold > [noun] > article as sales lure
catchpenny1705
draw-boy1864
leader1888
call bird1901
loss leader1922
society > trade and finance > merchandise > article(s) to be sold > [noun] > unit of goods for sale or lot > sold below cost
leader1888
1851 C. Cist Sketches & Statistics Cincinnati xv. 319 These articles [sc. sugar, molasses, coffee, etc.] are the leaders, as they are called, in commercial transactions, with the west.
1888 Chicago Tribune 29 Apr. 4/7 Goods advertised and sold below cost are technically known as ‘leaders’.
1889 Pop. Sci. Monthly Mar. 622 A new rival may inflict severe loss..through cutting the price of a staple below cost, and making it what is called a ‘leader’.
1895 Critic (N.Y.) 6 Apr. 263/1 In several Sixth Avenue houses, new books by popular writers have long been used as ‘leaders’—the technical name, I believe, for goods sold at little or no profit, sometimes even at a loss, for the sake of drawing customers, with a view of getting them to buy other wares as well.
1963 ‘R. Findlater’ What are Writers Worth? 14 Most [paperback] firms produce about a dozen titles every month..at the summit the ‘leader’—the smash-hit novel on which the selling machine is focused.
1967 Times Rev. Industry Feb. 31/1 Establishing new products is both costly and hazardous..while old leaders tend to decline over the years.
1972 Lebende Sprachen 17 34/1 US leader—BE/US loss leader, BE leading article.
9. In a tree or shrub: The shoot which grows at the apex of the stem, or of a principal branch; also, a bine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > [noun] > bough or branch > young branch, twig, or shoot
sprittle?c1225
leader1572
arrow1574
graft1576
thief1669
leading shoot1712
coppice shoot1851
Lammas shoot1929
1572 L. Mascall tr. in Bk. Plant & Graffe Trees 80 Ye shal neuer leaue aboue two, or three leaders at the heade of any principall braunch.
1822 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Gardening iii. i. 808 Retain a competent supply of side-shoots, with a good leader to each mother-branch.
1880 R. Jefferies Round about Great Estate 89 The leaders of the black bryony..twist around each other.
1892 Gardeners' Chron. 27 Aug. 242/1 The trees are allowed to waste their energies in the formation of a plurality of leaders at the top.
10. A tendon. (Cf. guide n. 10, guider n. 2c.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > structural parts > sinew, tendon, or ligament > [noun]
sinec725
sinewOE
stringc1000
bend1398
nerfa1400
nervea1400
cordc1400
ligamentc1400
ligaturec1400
couple1535
chord?1541
lien?1541
tendon?1541
tendant1614
artery1621
leader1708
ligamentum1713
chorda1807
vinculum1859
Tenon's capsule1868
tendo1874
1708 J. C. Compl. Collier 7 in T. Nourse Mistery of Husbandry Discover'd (ed. 3) Cutting their Leaders and Nerves.
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. i. 22 What the common People call Leaders or Sinews.
1854 R. Owen Struct. Skeleton & Teeth in Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature I. 163 The leaders of the leg-muscles in the turkey.
1891 Daily News 4 Sept. 3/7 In his second performance he severed one of the leaders of his thigh.
11.
a. In agricultural drainage: a main drain.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > ditching or drainage > [noun] > ditch
dikec893
gripa1000
ditch1045
fosselOE
water-furrowlOE
sow1316
furrowc1330
rick1332
sewer1402
gripplec1440
soughc1440
grindle1463
sheugh1513
syre1513
rain?1523
trench1523
slough1532
drain1552
fowsie?1553
thorougha1555
rean1591
potting1592
trink1592
syver1606
graft1644
work1649
by-ditch1650
water fence1651
master drain1652
rode1662
pudge1671
gripe1673
sulcus1676
rhine1698
rilling1725
mine1743
foot trench1765
through1777
trench drain1779
trenchlet1782
sunk fence1786
float1790
foot drain1795
tail-drain1805
flow-dike1812
groopa1825
holla1825
thorough drain1824
yawner1832
acequia madre1835
drove1844
leader1844
furrow-drain1858
1844 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 5 i. 9 One of the drains that enter the leader.
b. A tributary.
ΚΠ
1853 G. Johnston Terra Lindisfarnensis I. 15 The leaders to these burns are, in some places, called sykes.
12. = leading article n. 1.
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society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > article > leading article
leading article1807
editorial1825
leader1837
1837 Southern Literary Messenger 3 418/2 The Editor thus commenceth his leader.
1838 C. Dickens Let. 23 Dec. (1965) I. 475 I was very much obliged indeed to you for the paper. I..was greatly amused with the ‘leader’.
1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby I. ii. vi. 216 Give me a man who can write a leader.
1847 Ld. Houghton Let. 30 Nov. in T. W. Reid Life Ld. Houghton (1890) I. ix. 401 You can get..a file of the Times, the commercial leaders of which you should get up.
1862 J. Skelton Nugæ Criticæ xi. 482 He thought a page of Clarendon as pleasant historical reading as a leader in the Times.
1892 B. Matthews Americanisms & Briticisms 22 An American..calls that an ‘editorial’ which the Englishman calls a ‘leader’.
13. Mining.
a. A drain or stream that by its colour indicates the presence of minerals.
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1809 A. Henry Trav. & Adventures Canada 231 A green-coloured water, which tinged iron of a copper-colour, issued from the hill; and this the miners called a leader.
b. (See quot. 1846.)
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1846 W. E. Brockett J. T. Brockett's Gloss. North Country Words (ed. 3) Leader, a small band of coal connecting the portions of a coal-seam detached by a dyke, and following which, leads the miner to the seam again.
c. A small and insignificant vein, which leads to or indicates the proximity of a larger and better.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > [noun] > vein
veina1387
vein1601
leader1855
manta1874
1855 J. R. Leifchild Cornwall: Mines & Miners 95 Frequently the prevailing mineral runs continuously through the lode for considerable lengths and depths, forming what is called the leader.
1880 C. C. Adley Rep. Pioneer Mining Co. 2 Oct. 1 Two strong veins or leaders carrying copper ore have been crossed.
1890 Goldfields of Victoria 16 The prospects of the mine have improved, two auriferous leaders having been cut.
1900 Daily News 19 June 3/2 One or two tunnels had been drawn..on small leaders and..diamonds had been discovered.
14. Fireworks and Gunnery. A quick match enclosed in a paper tube for the purpose of conveying fire rapidly. Also attributive, as leader pipe (see quot.).
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1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 60 Lay a leader of quick match along the bore.
1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 282.
1878 T. Kentish Pyrotechn. Treas. 103 Leader Pipes. These are for piping quickmatch.
15. Fishing. (U.S.)
a. The end portion of a reel-line, consisting of gut, and having the snells of the fly-hooks attached to it; a casting-line.
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1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) Leader, a length of finely twisted hair, gut, or grass, for attaching an angler's hook to the line; a bottom. Called also a Snell.
1885 Harper's Mag. Apr. 777/1 The flies are attached to a leader, or, as our English brethren term it, a casting-line.
Categories »
b. ‘A net so placed as to intercept fish and lead them into a pound, weir, trap-net, etc.’ (E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 1884).
16. Machinery.
a. (See quots.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > [noun] > primary or first cause
First Cause1393
primum mobile1548
movera1550
impulsive causea1575
primus motor1579
beginning1587
first mobile1645
causa causans1659
first mover1711
prime mover1795
leader1805
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > [noun]
vicea1400
mover1626
primum mobile1663
machine1704
prime mover1795
leader1805
generator1823
energizer1891
1805 D. Brewster in Ferguson's Lect. Mech. (new ed.) II. 82 In a combination of wheels that which is acted upon by the power, or by some other wheel is called a leader.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 21 When speaking of the action of wheel-work in general, the wheel which acts as a mover is called the leader, and the one upon which it acts the follower.
1895 Mod. Steam Engine 58 The wheels of a locomotive are called—1st, leaders or leading-wheels.
Categories »
b. U.S. = leading-block n.
Categories »
c. ‘A principal furrow leading from the eye to the skirt of a mill-stone’ (1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. s.v. Millstone).
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d. ‘One of the long vertical timbers guiding the ram of a pile-driver car’ (Funk's Stand. Dict.).
17. Printing. A line of dots or dashes to guide the eye in letterpress.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printers' symbols and directions > [noun] > reference marks
side mark1647
parallel1689
leader1824
runner1888
1824 J. Johnson Typographia II. iii. 59 Full points are sometimes used as leaders in tables of contents.
1871 Amer. Encycl. Printing 269/2 Leaders (.... or ---), these consist of two or three dots, similar to full points, cast on one type, to the em body; there are also two or three em leaders, the number of dots being multiplied according to their length. Hyphen-faced leaders are also made (----).
18. Scottish and U.S. A pipe to conduct water.
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1875 in E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II.
1890 A. Lowson John Guidfellow xix. 161 The name ‘Spout’ was derived from a spout, stroupe, or leader, that was inserted into the bank..leading the water which ran [etc.].
Categories »
19. U.S. A guiding ring in an animal's nose. ( Cent. Dict.)
20. Cinematography and Tape Recording. A short length of blank or uncoated film or tape attached at the beginning or end of a reel for purposes of threading or identification.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > [noun] > tape > length or reel of > short length at beginning or end of reel
leader1917
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > filming > filming equipment > [noun] > film > part at beginning or end of reel
cut-in1913
leader1917
1917 C. N. Bennett Guide to Kinematogr. xi. 185 Refrain from..cutting or punching holes in the film leaders.
1960 J. M. Lloyd All-in-One Tape Recorder Bk. (ed. 4) v. 63 The inside and outside leaders are usually of different colours.
1969 J. Elliot Duel iii. ii. 233 She went to..learn the mysteries of..opticals and leaders and parallel and printing sync.
1969 D. N. Wood On Tape vii. 82 This brings me to the other main use of the leader tape—to act as a title... It is possible to use a chinagraph pencil on the tape itself, but it is much better to use leaders for this purpose.
21. Meteorology. In full, leader stroke. A preliminary stroke of lightning that ionizes the path taken by the much brighter return stroke that follows.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > lightning > bead or forked lightning > flash of
laitc900
slaughta1300
levinc1300
fire-slaughta1400
flaughta1400
thunderboltc1440
fudder1513
fire-flaughta1522
flag of firea1522
bolt1535
strokea1542
lightning bolta1560
lightning1560
fire-bolt?1562
fulgur1563
fulmen1563
thunder-thump1563
light-bolt1582
fire-flash1586
blaze1590
flake1590
clap1591
blastc1665
glade1744
streak1781
thunder-ball1820
leader stroke1934
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > thunder and lightning > [noun] > lightning > stroke of > preliminary
leader stroke1934
1934 Schonland & Collens in Proc. Royal Soc. A. 143 657 These preliminary downward strokes will be referred to as leader strokes and the upward strokes which follow them will be called main strokes.
1934 Schonland & Collens in Proc. Royal Soc. A. 143 657 Sometimes the leader is so faint that a portion only of the track can be seen.
1937 Jrnl. Inst. Electr. Engineers 81 6/2 Immediately the stepped leader stroke reaches the earth the..return stroke begins to travel..from earth to cloud.
1937 Jrnl. Inst. Electr. Engineers 81 6/2 The leaders to the second and subsequent strokes of a flash usually travel from cloud to ground in a single flight.
1963 Meteorol. Gloss. (Meteorol. Office) (ed. 4) 154 Leader strokes directed upwards from ground to cloud may predominate in the case of very high structures.
1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. (rev. ed.) VII. 510/1 Cloud-to-cloud strokes also involve a step leader and main return stroke.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. (In sense 3e.)
leader-principle n.
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1940 ‘G. Orwell’ Crit. Ess. (1951) 80 The absence of the leader-principle. There is no central dominating character.
leader-worship n.
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1940 ‘G. Orwell’ Crit. Ess. (1951) 83 More bloodshed, more leader-worship.
b. (In sense 6b.)
leader-mule n.
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1890 L. C. D'Oyle Notches Rough Edge Life 108 Not forgetting..to bestow an occasional cut upon the leader-mules.
c. (In sense 12.)
leader-column n.
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1897 Daily News 3 June 5/4 The problem set in our leader columns the other day.
leader-note n.
leader-page n.
ΚΠ
1932 J. Buchan Gap in Curtain i. 54 Each of us must concentrate on one particular part to which his special interest was pledged—Tavanger on the first City page, for example, Mayot on the leader page, [etc.].
1938 Observer 9 Jan. 5/1 (advt.) Eugene Lyons..Assignment in Utopia..‘A moving and truthful account...’—Malcolm Muggeridge (D. Telegraph, leader-page article).
leader-writer n.
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society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > other types of journalist
editorial writer1819
court-newsman1837
feuilletonist1840
editorialist1841
market reporter1854
headliner1875
leader-writer1882
investigative journalist1890
feature writer1912
roundsman1912
by-liner1944
telejournalist1964
New Journalist1970
gonzo1972
1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xix. 144 It is as a leader-writer and special correspondent that he will be best remembered.
1888 W. Besant Inner House 3 No news came. This was especially hard on the leader-writers.
1940 Manch. Guardian Weekly 22 Mar. 228 But now it is stated in Berlin that Mr. Kuusinen ‘has been promoted to be a leader-writer on an obscure provincial paper’.
C2.
leader board n. originally U.S. a score-board, esp. at a golf-course, on which the names, etc., of the leading competitors are displayed.
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society > leisure > sport > recording score > [noun] > scoreboard
scoring board1822
scoreboard1831
telegraph board1841
marking board1850
board1883
leader board1970
1970 Golf Digest Aug. 40/3 Last year there were not enough leader boards and scoreboards at the PGA.
1986 Sunday Express Mag. 9 Nov. 79/1 The maverick of the golf course. That phrase summed up Severiano Ballesteros when he first appeared on the leader boards.
leader-pipe n. = sense 18.
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1868 Putnam's Mag. Jan. 2 Then, without stay or stopping, My first and last eaves-dropping, By leader-pipe I sped.
leader stroke n. (see sense 21).
leader tape n. uncoated tape intended for use as a leader on a reel of magnetic tape; a length of tape so used.
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society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > [noun] > tape
steel tape1900
tape1932
magnetic tape1937
audiotape1957
leader tape1960
mag tape1960
digital audio tape1978
DAT1982
DCC1990
1960 J. M. Lloyd All-in-One Tape Recorder Bk. (ed. 4) v. 64 Leader tape is transparent and is shiny on both sides.
1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio vi. 107 A leader tape (giving summarized details of the contents) and a trailer (several feet of coloured tape to give a visual indication of the end) may be cut on to the recording.
1971 Hi-Fi Sound Feb. 42 (advt.) We also carry a full range of Accessories, Leader Tape, Empty Spools, Splicing Tape etc.
Draft additions 1997
Commerce. A share that is leading the movement of prices on a stock exchange; more generally, a leading economic indicator.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > stocks, shares, or bonds > [noun] > share > types of shares
bonus share1823
preference share1842
preferred share1842
qualification shares1846
pref1849
financial1864
founder's-shares1889
preference1890
preferred1891
ordinary1898
participation1916
equity1930
leader1938
Euroequity1969
small cap1984
1938 New Statesman 30 Apr. 750/1 Oil shares were banged in the ‘Street’ on Tuesday night, the leaders falling by about 5s.
1965 Financial Times 2 Jan. 1 (in figure) Leaders and Laggards. Percentage Change in 1964.
1971 N. Webster Add. Leader,..an economic indicator..that more often than not shows a change in direction before a corresponding change in the state of the economy.
1976 Liverpool Echo 7 Dec. 18/1 Leaders edged forward, but most had to struggle to hold the higher positions.
1990 European Investor May 35/1 For the moment, we believe it is safe to stay with the leaders with high earnings visibility such as AIB, CRH and FII-Fyffes.
Draft additions December 2020
In partner dancing: the dancer (traditionally the male partner) who guides and coordinates the steps or routine during a performance. Cf. follower n. 3d.
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1926 China Press (Shanghai) 27 Aug. 2/3 The advanced dancer should be able to lead sufficiently well to guide his partner, but one must be a firm leader to make his partner dance toward him.
1999 Amateur Dancers July 6/2 The leader wraps his right arm around the follower's waist or mid-back. This hold is central to tango.
2018 V. Harman Sexual Politics Ballroom Dancing (2019) iv. 76 In the advanced classes, men and women are regularly asked to walk through both the leader and follower steps, so they know what they need from each other in their respective roles.
Draft additions June 2001
Leader of the Opposition n. Politics (in a multi-party democracy) the person leading the principal party in opposition to the government; (spec. in the United Kingdom) the MP chosen to lead the largest opposition party in the House of Commons.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > English or British parliament > [noun] > Member of Parliament > leader of opposition
Leader of the Opposition1771
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. liv. 235 I am a partizan of the great leader of the opposition.
1836 W. Dunlap Mem. Water Drinker I. i. 18 He [sc. Pitt] was the leader of the opposition in parliament.
1884 Manch. Examiner 27 Aug. 5/2 The Leader of the Opposition would hardly go to Oban on a stumping expedition.
1915 S. Phillips Armageddon iii. 54 On Tuesday night the leader of the Opposition engaged in personal conflict with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
1959 Cape Times 4 Feb. 1/1 Mr. Ray Stockil yesterday announced his intention to retire as Leader of the Opposition in the Southern Rhodesia Parliament.
1991 Hindu (Madras) 6 Dec. 1/6 In 1988, the then Speaker, Niaz Hussain, had refused to accept Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav as the Leader of the Opposition after a split in the Lok Dal which was reduced to a minority but had claimed the support of the left parties and the Janata Party.
1999 Guardian (Electronic ed.) 7 Feb. Since William Hague became Leader of the Opposition, it has been fashionable to compare him with Neil Kinnock.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† leadern.2
Obsolete. rare. Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
A plumber.
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society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > utility service workers > [noun] > plumber
plumber1385
blemmerec1420
leaderc1440
plumstera1500
pipe-fitter1860
sanitary engineer1873
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 292/1 Leedare or plummare.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.1c1290
n.2c1440