a. (see quot. 1860). b. = FAIR-LEADER.
a. c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 21. What do you mean by a fair lead? In reeving a rope, to be very careful to have it so led through the block or sheave aloft, that it does not cut or chafe any of the rigging, or cross any other ropes.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Fair-lead. Is applied to ropes as suffering the least friction in a block, when they are said to lead fair.
b. 1869. Sir E. J. Reed, Shipbuild., xv. 290. Of late wooden dead-eyes have been dispensed with, and fair-leads or dead-eyes of malleable cast-iron have been employed.
Similarly Fair-leader (see quot. 1841). Fair-leading vbl. sb., attrib. in fair-leading block, a block that acts as a fair-leader.
1841. R. H. Dana, Seaman’s Man., 104. Fair-leader. A strip of board or plank, with holes in it, for running rigging, to lead through. Also, a block or thimble used for the same purpose.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 59. The falls being led … through fair-leaders in ship’s side. Ibid., 55. A fair-leading block stropped to it.
