What does "plimsoll" mean?
A rubber-soled lace-up canvas shoe for sports or onboard ships; a precursor of trainers.
Plimsoll
/ˈplɪmsoʊl/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A rubber-soled lace-up canvas shoe for sports or onboard ships; a precursor of trainers.
- Grammar: plimsoll is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: load line, dap, plimsoll line, plimsoll mark.
- Useful contrasts: overload, underload.
- Usage evidence: “Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant.
How to use "plimsoll"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "plimsoll" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "plimsoll" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "plimsoll" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "plimsoll" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "plimsoll" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "load line" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "plimsoll", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A rubber-soled lace-up canvas shoe for sports or onboard ships; a precursor of trainers. Ireland, UK
"“Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant."
- 2 a light gym shoe with a rubber sole and a canvas top wordnet
- 3 The plimsoll symbol ⦵ (or o) that is used as a superscript in the notation of thermodynamics to indicate an arbitrarily chosen non-zero reference point.
- 4 waterlines to show the level the water should reach when the ship is properly loaded wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"“Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "plimsoll"?
Common synonyms include: load line, dap, plimsoll line, plimsoll mark, pump, sandshoe.
How do you use "plimsoll" in a sentence?
“Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant.
How do you pronounce "plimsoll"?
Pronounced /ˈplɪmsoʊl/.
Etymology
From Samuel Plimsoll, a Bristol merchant who created a system of marks and symbols for the waterline of ships. The shoe was possibly named because the line of its sole resembled the Plimsoll line of ship.