leaded-glass
Meaning
Made of glass that has been set in lead strips or channels, typically used for decorative windows.
Glass of this type.
Structure
Usage
The cathedral's beautiful windows are made of antique leaded-glass.
They replaced the plain pane with a decorative leaded-glass panel.
The craftsperson carefully soldered the leaded-glass pieces together.
Etymology
The compound 'leaded-glass' is a descriptive term from the craft of stained glass and glazing. The first element, 'leaded', is the past participle of the verb 'to lead', referring to the process of using strips of the soft, malleable metal lead to hold individual pieces of colored glass in place. The second element, 'glass', has ancient Germanic roots, denoting the hard, brittle, transparent substance. The term thus literally describes "glass that has been leaded," evolving from a straightforward description of the construction technique to become the standard name for the material, especially in artistic and architectural contexts.
Analysis
- leaded: From the English verb 'lead' (to cover, line, or weight with the metal lead) + the past participle suffix '-ed'. The verb 'lead' (metal) originates from Old English 'lēad', of West Germanic origin. - glass: From Old English 'glæs', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'glas' and German 'Glas'.