plumb line
tool
Quick Summary
A plumb line is a tool used to determine verticality. It consists of a line with a weight, known as a plumb bob, attached to one end. When suspended, the plumb line indicates a true vertical direction by pointing towards the Earth's center of gravity. Historically, the weight was made of lead, which is where the term "plumb" originates from the Latin word plumbum. While a simple plumb line defines verticality, early tools resembling the letter 'E' were developed to more practically check if walls were plumb.1234
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