lead [OE] Two entirely different Old English words come together in the spelling lead, with different pronunciations. The lead that rhymes with ‘bead’ shares an ancient root with *load; the lead that rhymes with ‘bed’ and means ‘a metal’ is related to Dutch lood ‘lead’ and German Lot ‘plumb line, solder’. The image in to lead someone by the nose [L16th], ‘to control someone totally’, is of an animal being led by a ring in its nose. Boxing gave us to lead with your chin [M20th] ‘to behave or talk incautiously’. It refers to a boxer’s stance that leaves his chin unprotected. See also balloon.