What's up with this archaic usage of “leads”?












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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.









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    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.









    share







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    Jarndyce is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      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.









      share







      New contributor




      Jarndyce is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.












      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





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