Part 353

||Plu`mas`sier" (?), n. [F.] One who prepares or deals in ornamental ||plumes or feathers.

Plumb (plm), n. [F. plomb, L. plumbum lead, a leaden ball or bullet; cf. Gr. mo`lybos, mo`libos, mo`lybdos. Cf. Plummet, Plunge.] A little mass or weight of lead, or the like, attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction; a plummet; a plumb bob. See Plumb line, below.

Plumb bob. See Bob, 4. -- Plumb joint, in sheet-metal work, a lap joint, fastened by solder. -- Plumb level. See under Level. -- Plumb line. (a) The cord by which a plumb bob is suspended; a plummet. (b) A line directed to the center of gravity of the earth. -- Plumb rule, a narrow board with a plumb line, used by builders and carpenters.

Plumb, a. Perpendicular; vertical; conforming the direction of a line attached to a plumb; as, the wall is plumb.

Plumb, adv. In a plumb direction; perpendicularly. "Plumb down he falls." Milton.

Plumb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumbed (plmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Plumbing (plm"ng).] 1. To adjust by a plumb line; to cause to be perpendicular; as, to plumb a building or a wall.

2. To sound with a plumb or plummet, as the depth of water; hence, to examine by test; to ascertain the depth, quality, dimension, etc.; to sound; to fathom; to test.

He did not attempt to plumb his intellect.

Ld. Lytton.

3. To seal with lead; as, to plumb a drainpipe.

4. To supply, as a building, with a system of plumbing.

Plumb"age (plm"j; 48), n. Leadwork [R.]

Plum*ba"gin (plm*b"jn), n. [L. plumbago leadwort, fr. plumbum lead; cf. F. plombagin.] (Chem.) A crystalline substance said to be found in the root of a certain plant of the Leadwort (Plumbago) family.

<! p. 1102 !>

Plum`ba*gin"e*ous (plm`b*jn"*s), a. (Bot.) Pertaining to natural order (PlumbagineÊ) of gamopetalous herbs, of which Plumbago is the type. The order includes also the marsh rosemary, the thrift, and a few other genera.

Plum*bag"i*nous (?), a. Resembling plumbago; consisting of, or containing, plumbago; as, a plumbaginous slate.

Plum*ba"go, n. [L., from plumbum lead.] 1. (Min.) Same as Graphite.

2. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants with pretty salver-shaped corollas, usually blue or violet; leadwort.

{ Plum"be*an (?), Plum"be*ous (?), } a. [L. plumbeus, from plumbum the metal lead.] 1. Consisting of, or resembling, lead. J. Ellis.

2. Dull; heavy; stupid. [R.] J. P. Smith.

Plumb"er (?), n. [F. plombier. See Plumb.] One who works in lead; esp., one who furnishes, fits, and repairs lead, iron, or glass pipes, and other apparatus for the conveyance of water, gas, or drainage in buildings.

Plumb"er block` (?). A pillow block.

Plumb"er*y (?), n. [F. plomberie.] 1. The business of a plumber. [Obs.]

2. A place where plumbing is carried on; lead works.

Plum"bic (?), a. [From Plumbum.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, resembling, or containing, lead; -- used specifically to designate those compounds in which it has a higher valence as contrasted with plumbous compounds; as, plumbic oxide.

Plum*bif"er*ous (?), a. [Plumbum + -ferous.] Producing or containing lead. Kirwan.

Plumb"ing (?), n. 1. The art of casting and working in lead, and applying it to building purposes; especially, the business of furnishing, fitting, and repairing pipes for conducting water, sewage, etc. Gwilt.

2. The lead or iron pipes, and other apparatus, used in conveying water, sewage, etc., in a building.