- To heave the lead
- Heave Heave (h[=e]v), v. t. [imp. {Heaved} (h[=e]vd), or
{Hove} (h[=o]v); p. p. {Heaved}, {Hove}, formerly {Hoven}
(h[=o]"v'n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Heaving}.] [OE. heven, hebben,
AS. hebban; akin to OS. hebbian, D. heffen, OHG. heffan,
hevan, G. heben, Icel. hefja, Sw. h[aum]fva, Dan. h[ae]ve,
Goth. hafjan, L. capere to take, seize; cf. Gr. kw`ph handle.
Cf. {Accept}, {Behoof}, {Capacious}, {Forceps}, {Haft},
{Receipt}.]
1. To cause to move upward or onward by a lifting effort; to
lift; to raise; to hoist; -- often with up; as, the wave
heaved the boat on land.
[1913 Webster]
One heaved ahigh, to be hurled down below. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Note: Heave, as now used, implies that the thing raised is heavy or hard to move; but formerly it was used in a less restricted sense. [1913 Webster]
Here a little child I stand, Heaving up my either hand. --Herrick. [1913 Webster]
2. To throw; to cast; -- obsolete, provincial, or colloquial, except in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the lead; to heave the log. [1913 Webster]
3. To force from, or into, any position; to cause to move; also, to throw off; -- mostly used in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the ship ahead. [1913 Webster]
4. To raise or force from the breast; to utter with effort; as, to heave a sigh. [1913 Webster]
The wretched animal heaved forth such groans. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
5. To cause to swell or rise, as the breast or bosom. [1913 Webster]
The glittering, finny swarms That heave our friths, and crowd upon our shores. --Thomson. [1913 Webster]
{To heave a cable short} (Naut.), to haul in cable till the ship is almost perpendicularly above the anchor.
{To heave a ship ahead} (Naut.), to warp her ahead when not under sail, as by means of cables.
{To heave a ship down} (Naut.), to throw or lay her down on one side; to careen her.
{To heave a ship to} (Naut.), to bring the ship's head to the wind, and stop her motion.
{To heave about} (Naut.), to put about suddenly.
{To heave in} (Naut.), to shorten (cable).
{To heave in stays} (Naut.), to put a vessel on the other tack.
{To heave out a sail} (Naut.), to unfurl it.
{To heave taut} (Naut.), to turn a capstan, etc., till the rope becomes strained. See {Taut}, and {Tight}.
{To heave the lead} (Naut.), to take soundings with lead and line.
{To heave the log}. (Naut.) See {Log}.
{To heave up anchor} (Naut.), to raise it from the bottom of the sea or elsewhere. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
