A fairlead outside the Yamato Museum in Kure, Japan.

Definition

Noun

  • Any type of device to control the lead, or direction, of a line.

Origin

Possibly the 12th century. From Old English.

Comments

These can be various types of chocks or bitts. They can be open or closed. It could even be something as simple as a board with holes in it to run rigging through.

References

Kemp, P. (1994). The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford University Press.

King, D., Hattendorf, J.B, & Estes, J.W. (1997). A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O’Brian’s Seafaring Tales (2nd Ed.). Owl Books.

Rogers, J.G. (1985). Origins of Sea Terms. Mystic Seaport.