A device on a ship that guides a rope, cable, or chain smoothly along a specific path without friction or tangling.
From nautical English 'fair' (meaning smooth or aligned) plus 'lead' (from Old English 'lædan' meaning 'to guide'), literally describing something that leads or guides fairly (smoothly).
Fairleads are tiny but essential devices that prevent million-dollar yachts from getting tangled—sailors discovered centuries ago that guiding ropes through rings made of various materials could reduce friction by 90%, and the principle is still used in modern sailing.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.