A line used in sounding the depth of water; also, line or other material forming this.

A sounding lead used for measuring the depth of water; = plummet, n. 1. Also figurative. Obsolete.

(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…

Nautical. Now chiefly in form hand line. A line attached to a hand lead (hand lead n. at hand, n. compounds 6), marked at regular intervals up to…

(See quot. 1552.)

the line used in testing the depth of the sea in fathoms; also figurative.

A line used to determine depth; a sounding line. Frequently figurative.

A sounding-line or -lead.

a small lead (lead, n.1 6a) used in taking soundings in shallow water, typically of a depth of less than 20 fathoms.

a plumb line.

= plumbing line n.

An apparatus for sounding the sea.

A line used at sea; (a) a sounding line; (b) a long line used in sea-fishing in deep water.