Leach"y (?), a. Permitting liquids to pass by percolation; not capable
of retaining water; porous; pervious; -- said of gravelly or sandy
soils, and the like.
Lead (ld), n. [OE. led, leed, lead, AS. leád; akin to D. lood, MHG. lt,
G. loth plummet, sounding lead, small weight, Sw. & Dan. lod.
√123.] 1. (Chem.) One of the elements, a heavy, pliable,
inelastic metal, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished.
It is both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity, and is
used for tubes, sheets, bullets, etc. Its specific gravity is 11.37. It
is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient
of solder and type metal. Atomic weight, 206.4. Symbol Pb (L. Plumbum).
It is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena, lead sulphide.
2. An article made of lead or an alloy of lead; as: (a) A plummet or
mass of lead, used in sounding at sea. (b) (Print.) A thin strip of
type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing. (c) Sheets or
plates of lead used as a covering for roofs; hence, pl., a roof covered
with lead sheets or terne plates.