What's up with this archaic usage of “leads”?
This is my first Stack Exchange post, so please let me know if there'd be a better place to ask this question!
I'm reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens right now, and I came upon this bit, describing Mr. Tulkinghorn walking out on a parapet or balcony from his turret room in an old manor house: "...he opens the French window and steps out upon the leads. There he again walks slowly up and down..."
And later: "The stars are shining as they shone above the turret-leads at Chesney Wold."
Has anyone heard this usage of "leads" before? I can't seem to find this sense anywhere else, and the OED doesn't have anything either. One guess I have is that it's shorthand for lead roof tiles. My other is that it's somehow related to "ledge," but I'm not sure that makes much sense.
meaning etymology terminology architecture
asked Mar 24 at 5:46
JarndyceJarndyce
11
add a comment |
This is my first Stack Exchange post, so please let me know if there'd be a better place to ask this question!
I'm reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens right now, and I came upon this bit, describing Mr. Tulkinghorn walking out on a parapet or balcony from his turret room in an old manor house: "...he opens the French window and steps out upon the leads. There he again walks slowly up and down..."
And later: "The stars are shining as they shone above the turret-leads at Chesney Wold."
Has anyone heard this usage of "leads" before? I can't seem to find this sense anywhere else, and the OED doesn't have anything either. One guess I have is that it's shorthand for lead roof tiles. My other is that it's somehow related to "ledge," but I'm not sure that makes much sense.
meaning etymology terminology architecture
asked Mar 24 at 5:46
JarndyceJarndyce
11
2
I would understand it to refer to the leaded part of a roof that you would find just under a French window, or that would catch the starlight. If you google victorian lead flashing you should be able to find some images.
– Minty
Mar 24 at 6:04
Thanks for the question. OLD defines 'lead': "2.1 (leads) British Sheets or strips of lead covering a roof." As does OED.
– JEL
Mar 24 at 7:27
@Minty Many old buildings, particularly large houses, churches and castles, have rooves completely covered in lead. In particular turrets often have lead rooves even if the main roof is slated or tiled. This is different from flashing which is the lead used to seal a tiled or slated roof to walls, gullies and so on.
– BoldBen
Mar 24 at 10:29
add a comment |
This is my first Stack Exchange post, so please let me know if there'd be a better place to ask this question!
I'm reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens right now, and I came upon this bit, describing Mr. Tulkinghorn walking out on a parapet or balcony from his turret room in an old manor house: "...he opens the French window and steps out upon the leads. There he again walks slowly up and down..."
And later: "The stars are shining as they shone above the turret-leads at Chesney Wold."
Has anyone heard this usage of "leads" before? I can't seem to find this sense anywhere else, and the OED doesn't have anything either. One guess I have is that it's shorthand for lead roof tiles. My other is that it's somehow related to "ledge," but I'm not sure that makes much sense.
meaning etymology terminology architecture
asked Mar 24 at 5:46
JarndyceJarndyce
11
This is my first Stack Exchange post, so please let me know if there'd be a better place to ask this question!
I'm reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens right now, and I came upon this bit, describing Mr. Tulkinghorn walking out on a parapet or balcony from his turret room in an old manor house: "...he opens the French window and steps out upon the leads. There he again walks slowly up and down..."
And later: "The stars are shining as they shone above the turret-leads at Chesney Wold."
Has anyone heard this usage of "leads" before? I can't seem to find this sense anywhere else, and the OED doesn't have anything either. One guess I have is that it's shorthand for lead roof tiles. My other is that it's somehow related to "ledge," but I'm not sure that makes much sense.
meaning etymology terminology architecture
meaning etymology terminology architecture
asked Mar 24 at 5:46
JarndyceJarndyce
11
asked Mar 24 at 5:46
JarndyceJarndyce
11
asked Mar 24 at 5:46
JarndyceJarndyce
11
asked Mar 24 at 5:46
JarndyceJarndyce
11
asked Mar 24 at 5:46
JarndyceJarndyce
11
11
2
I would understand it to refer to the leaded part of a roof that you would find just under a French window, or that would catch the starlight. If you google victorian lead flashing you should be able to find some images.
– Minty
Mar 24 at 6:04
Thanks for the question. OLD defines 'lead': "2.1 (leads) British Sheets or strips of lead covering a roof." As does OED.
– JEL
Mar 24 at 7:27
@Minty Many old buildings, particularly large houses, churches and castles, have rooves completely covered in lead. In particular turrets often have lead rooves even if the main roof is slated or tiled. This is different from flashing which is the lead used to seal a tiled or slated roof to walls, gullies and so on.
– BoldBen
Mar 24 at 10:29
add a comment |
2
I would understand it to refer to the leaded part of a roof that you would find just under a French window, or that would catch the starlight. If you google victorian lead flashing you should be able to find some images.
– Minty
Mar 24 at 6:04
Thanks for the question. OLD defines 'lead': "2.1 (leads) British Sheets or strips of lead covering a roof." As does OED.
– JEL
Mar 24 at 7:27
@Minty Many old buildings, particularly large houses, churches and castles, have rooves completely covered in lead. In particular turrets often have lead rooves even if the main roof is slated or tiled. This is different from flashing which is the lead used to seal a tiled or slated roof to walls, gullies and so on.
– BoldBen
Mar 24 at 10:29
2
2
I would understand it to refer to the leaded part of a roof that you would find just under a French window, or that would catch the starlight. If you google victorian lead flashing you should be able to find some images.
– Minty
Mar 24 at 6:04
I would understand it to refer to the leaded part of a roof that you would find just under a French window, or that would catch the starlight. If you google victorian lead flashing you should be able to find some images.
– Minty
Mar 24 at 6:04
Thanks for the question. OLD defines 'lead': "2.1 (leads) British Sheets or strips of lead covering a roof." As does OED.
– JEL
Mar 24 at 7:27
Thanks for the question. OLD defines 'lead': "2.1 (leads) British Sheets or strips of lead covering a roof." As does OED.
– JEL
Mar 24 at 7:27
@Minty Many old buildings, particularly large houses, churches and castles, have rooves completely covered in lead. In particular turrets often have lead rooves even if the main roof is slated or tiled. This is different from flashing which is the lead used to seal a tiled or slated roof to walls, gullies and so on.
– BoldBen
Mar 24 at 10:29
@Minty Many old buildings, particularly large houses, churches and castles, have rooves completely covered in lead. In particular turrets often have lead rooves even if the main roof is slated or tiled. This is different from flashing which is the lead used to seal a tiled or slated roof to walls, gullies and so on.
– BoldBen
Mar 24 at 10:29
add a comment |
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I would understand it to refer to the leaded part of a roof that you would find just under a French window, or that would catch the starlight. If you google victorian lead flashing you should be able to find some images.
– Minty
Mar 24 at 6:04
Thanks for the question. OLD defines 'lead': "2.1 (leads) British Sheets or strips of lead covering a roof." As does OED.
– JEL
Mar 24 at 7:27
@Minty Many old buildings, particularly large houses, churches and castles, have rooves completely covered in lead. In particular turrets often have lead rooves even if the main roof is slated or tiled. This is different from flashing which is the lead used to seal a tiled or slated roof to walls, gullies and so on.
– BoldBen
Mar 24 at 10:29