plumb

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to measure depth or to explore thoroughly; exactly vertical

   Scientists sought to plumb the depths of the trench.

Simplified etymology

Plumb comes from Latin plumbum “lead.” In Middle English it denoted a lead weight suspended from a string to establish a vertical line and also a sounding lead used to measure water depth; these uses gave rise to expressions such as out of plumb and plumb the depths.

From Old French plomb ('lead, lead weight'), from Latin plumbum ('lead'). A plumb line uses a lead weight to find the vertical or measure depth.

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