leadsman

[ ledz-muh n ]

/ ˈlɛdz mən /

a sailor who sounds with a lead line.

Origin of leadsman

First recorded in 1500–10; lead² + 's¹ + -man

Another—the leadsman—was standing amidships peering over the side into the mist.

The Last Hope |Henry Seton Merriman
She lurched across with dry decks, and when the leadsman got deeper water the pilot brought her round and pulled up his canoe.

Wyndham's Pal |Harold Bindloss
"By the mark seven," sung out the leadsman in the starboard chains.

Tom Cringle's Log |Michael Scott
The line ran out until it suddenly slackened just under the leadsman.

The Harbor of Doubt |Frank Williams

Though she received nine shots in her hull, the leadsman was the only man wounded on board.

The Three Commanders |W.H.G. Kingston

leadsman

/ (ˈlɛdzmən) /

nautical a sailor who takes soundings with a lead line