Why is it Called a Plumb Bob?

Some of you may ask, from where does the word plumb derive? Well, as I was reminded by my cousin over the past weekend, Pb (an abbreviation of the Latin, plumbum) is the symbol for lead. As lead weights were used from an early date to establish a vertical, the tool used to do so were eventually known in English as plumb bobs, plumb lines, or plummets. (Plumbing also derives from this element in connection with lead pipes).

While contemporary times provide us with a multitude of ways to establish a vertical, the plumb bob remains a tried and true reliable tool. Our miniature brass plumb bobs, available on Etsy, provide you with a true vertical without the need to carry around a bob of lead!