Home › Words › F › fairleaderfairleaderfairleader means A fitting used to guide a line, cable or sheet with minimal friction. Used for anchor lines, and for rigging on sailing ships.EtymologyFrom fair + leader.nounA fitting used to guide a line, cable or sheet with minimal friction. Used for anchor lines, and for rigging on sailing ships.Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).Words closest in meaningBy meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.fairlead 80% match — A device to guide a line, rope or cable around an object or out of the way, or to stop it from moving laterally. vs fairleader →makefast 54% match — Something to which a vessel can be made fast or tied, such as a cleat, post or bollard. vs fairleader →clewline 54% match — Outermost of the ropes with which a square sail is rolled up to the yard vs fairleader →foresheet 54% match — one of the sheets (ropes) that controls the foresail vs fairleader →earing 53% match — A line used to fasten the upper corners of a sail to the yard or gaff. vs fairleader →ferrule 53% match — A band or cap (usually metal) placed around a shaft to reinforce it or to prevent splitting. vs fairleader →ferruler 53% match — A person employed to make or fit ferrules. vs fairleader →forebrace 53% match — A rope applied to the fore yardarm, to change the position of the foresail. vs fairleader →