Hypertext Webster Gateway: "plummet"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Plummet \Plum"met\, n. [OE. plommet, OF. plommet, fr. plom,
plum, lead, F. plomb. See {Plumb}.]
1. A piece of lead attached to a line, used in sounding the
depth of water.
I'll sink him deeper than e'er plummet sounded.
--Shak.
2. A plumb bob or a plumb line. See under {Plumb}, n.
3. Hence, any weight.
4. A piece of lead formerly used by school children to rule
paper for writing.
{Plummet line}, a line with a plummet; a sounding line.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
plummet
n : the metal bob of a plumb line [syn: {plumb bob}, {plumb}]
v : drop sharply; "The stock market plummeted" [syn: {plump}]
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