Naut. [SOUNDING vbl. sb.2] The lead or plummet attached to the sounding-line.
1485. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 51. Leede lynes, j; Sounding leeds, j. Ibid. (1495), 193. Sowdyng ledes, ij.
1530. Palsgr., 709/2. I serche the see with a sowndyng leade to knowe howe depe it is.
1584. B. R., trans. Herodotus, II. 76. Whiche … would not suffer the line with the sounding leade to sinke to the bottome.
1639. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 226. Two compasses, one sounding lead & one barrell of meale.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., IV. 137. Common Navigation requireth the Use of no Instruments but the Compass and Sounding-Lead.
1711. Milit. & Sea Dict., s.v., The Sounding-Lead is as the Deep-Sea-Lead for Sounding; but it is commonly only seven Pounds Weight, and about 12 Inches long.
1802. A. Duncan, Marin. Chron. (1805), III. 215. Upon … sounding, the strap of the sounding-lead broke; an accident which very rarely happens.
1888. Goode, Amer. Fishes, 75. These grounds are found by the use of the sounding-lead.
