fairlead

noun

fair·​lead ˈfer-ˌlēd 

1

or less commonly fairleader

ˈfer-ˌlē-dər 

: a block, ring, or strip of plank with holes that serves as a guide for the running rigging or any ship's rope and keeps it from chafing

2

: a course of running ship's rope that avoids all chafing

Examples of fairlead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This hunk of billet aluminum solves both problems by providing a closed shackle mount that’s designed to fit snug with the winch’s fairlead. — Wes Siler, Outside Online, 12 Nov. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fairlead

• accede
• agreed
• airspeed
• alkyd
• bindweed
• chickweed
• concede
• decreed
• duckweed
• exceed
• flaxseed
• impede