fairlead

noun

fair·​lead ˈfer-ˌlēd 

1

or less commonly fairleader

ˈfer-ˌlē-dər 

: a block, ring, or strip of plank with holes that serves as a guide for the running rigging or any ship's rope and keeps it from chafing

2

: a course of running ship's rope that avoids all chafing

Examples of fairlead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This hunk of billet aluminum solves both problems by providing a closed shackle mount that’s designed to fit snug with the winch’s fairlead. —Wes Siler, Outside Online, 12 Nov. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1