leadsman

== English == === Etymology 1 === From Middle English ledes-man (“a military commander”, “a general”); equivalent to leads (the genitive form of lead: “a leading”, “a directing”, “a guiding”) + man. ==== Alternative forms ==== ledës-man ==== Pronunciation ==== (Received Pronunciation) enPR: lēdzʹmən, IPA(key): /ˈliːdz.mən/ ==== Noun ==== leadsman (plural leadsmen) (obsolete) lodesman (a leader or guide) ==== References ==== “†Leadsman¹” listed on page 145 of volume VI, part 1 (L, M) of A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles [1st ed., 1908]  †Leadsman¹. Obs. [f. leads, genitive of Lead sb.² + Man.] A guide, = Lodesman. [¶] c 1510 Gest R. Hode vii. 369 in Child Ballads (1888) III. 74/1, I wyll be your ledës-man, And lede you the way. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres 29 They find their leadsman before them in their due distance. “†leadsman¹” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd ed., 1989] === Etymology 2 === From (genitive form of) lead (“heavy metal; Pb”) + man. ==== Pronunciation ==== (UK) enPR: lĕdzʹmən, IPA(key): /ˈlɛdzmən/ ==== Noun ==== leadsman (plural leadsmen) (nautical) A sailor who takes soundings with a lead, measuring the depth of water. 1808–10, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, Folio Society 1995, p. 205: In the same moment the leadsman hove the lead, and, finding it directly take the ground, he, in his fright, called out, ‘There's only three fathom.’ ===== Translations ===== ==== See also ==== swing the lead throw the lead ==== References ==== “Leadsman²” listed on page 145 of volume VI, part 1 (L, M) of A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles [1st ed., 1908]  Leadsman² (le·dzmăn). [f. gen. of Lead sb.¹ + Man.] The man who ‘heaves’ the lead in taking soundings. [¶; 4 quots.: 1857, 1867, 1875, 1891] “leadsman²” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd ed., 1989] === Anagrams === dalesman