Origin and history of lead

"to guide," Old English lædan (transitive) "cause to go with oneself; march at the head of, go before as a guide, accompany and show the way; carry on; sprout forth, bring forth; pass (one's life)," causative of liðan "to travel," from Proto-Germanic *laidjanan (according to Watkins from PIE *leit- (2) "to go forth").

Of roads by c. 1200. The meaning "be in first place" is by late 14c. The intransitive sense, "act the part of a leader," is from 1570s. The sense in card-playing, "to commence a round or trick," is from 1670s. The meaning "take the directing part in a musical performance or prayer" is attested by 1849. Related: Led; leading.

To lead with one's chin "leave oneself vulnerable in a contest" (1946) is a figure from boxing. To lead on "entice to advance" is from 1590s. To figuratively lead (someone) by the nose "guide by persuasion" is from 1580s, from draught animals (earlier lead by the sleeve, early 15c.). To lead (someone) a dance "compel through a course of irksome actions" is from 1520s.

Germanic cognates include Old Saxon lithan, Old Norse liða "to go," Old High German ga-lidan "to travel," Gothic ga-leiþan "to go."

metal noted for softness, heaviness, and durability, Old English lead "lead, leaden vessel," from West Germanic *lauda- (source also of Old Frisian lad, Middle Dutch loot, Dutch lood "lead," German Lot "weight, plummet"), a word of uncertain origin. The name and the skill in using the metal seem to have been borrowed from the Celts (compare Old Irish luaide).

Figurative of heaviness at least since early 14c. American English slang lead balloon "dismal failure" attested by 1957, perhaps 1940s (as a type of something heavy that can be kept up only with effort, from 1904). Lead-footed "slow" is from 1896; opposite sense of "fast" emerged 1940s in trucker's jargon, from notion of a foot heavy on the gas pedal.

The meaning "graphite in a pencil" is from 1816 (see pencil (n.)). Black lead was an old name for "graphite," hence lead pencil (1680s) and the colloquial figurative phrase to have lead in one's pencil "be possessed of (especially male sexual) vigor," attested by 1902. White lead (1560s) was an old name for "tin."

As a name of a dull bluish-gray color, 1610s. From 1590s as figurative for "bullets." Lead oxide was much used in glazing, mirror-making, and pigments. In printing, "thin strip of type-metal (often lead but sometimes brass) used in composition to separate lines" from 1808, earlier space-line. Lead-poisoning is from 1848; earlier lead-distemper (1774).

c. 1300, "action of leading," from lead (v.1). The meaning "the front or leading place" is attested from 1560s. Johnson stigmatized it as "a low, despicable word."

The sense in card-playing, "action or privilege of playing first," is from 1742; in journalism, "initial summary of a news story," from 1912 (often spelled lede, probably to distinguish it from lead (n.1), which formerly played a prominent role in typesetting). The boxing sense is by 1906.

In jazz bands, from 1934 in reference to the principal parts; earlier it was used in music in reference to fugues (1880) of the part that takes off first and is "followed" by the others. In theater, "the principal part," by 1831.

The meaning "direction given by example" (as in follow someone's lead) is by 1863; that of "a clue to a solution" is by 1851, both from the notion of "thing to be followed."

As an adjective, "leading," by 1846. Lead-time "time needed to produce something" is by 1945, American English.

early 15c., "to make of lead," from lead (n.1). Meaning "to cover with lead" is from mid-15c. In printing, 1841, also lead out.

"made of or resembling lead," late 14c., from lead (n.1).