lode

UK: ləʊd | US: loʊd

Definition

  1. n. a vein of metal ore in the earth

  2. n. (archaic) a way or path

Structure
lode <load, way>
Etymology

The word "lode" originates from Old English "lād," which meant "way" or "course," often referring to a path for carrying goods. Over time, it specialized in mining contexts to denote a vein of ore, metaphorically representing a "path" to valuable minerals. The modern sense of "lode" as a mineral vein retains this idea of a guiding or productive route.

Examples

  1. Miners discovered a rich lode of silver in the mountain.

  2. The old map marked the lode where gold was once mined.

  3. Geologists studied the lode to determine its depth and quality.

  4. The abandoned lode still attracts prospectors hoping for leftover ore.

  5. In medieval times, a lode was simply a road for transporting goods.