Plummet
/ˈplʌmɪt/noun
A heavy object attached to a line for measuring depth or verticality; by extension, to fall straight down rapidly.
Did you know?Plummet comes from Old French and Latin roots tied to lead, because the original plumb line was weighted with lead — the same root behind plumber and plumb.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pleh₂-
“to be flat, broad”
Latin
Latin
plumbum
“lead”
Old French
OF
plommet
“small lead weight or plumb bob”
Middle English
English
plommet
“a small lead weight used on a line”
Modern English
English
plummet
“a weight on a line for measuring depth; later, to fall sharply”