ledger

[ lej-er ]

noun

1. Bookkeeping. an account book or digital file of final entry, in which business transactions are recorded:

   The Controller must oversee, review, and approve of all posting of financial activity into the General Ledger.

2. Computers. a decentralized public database of permanent records of financial transactions, distributed over a network and typically having the form of a blockchain, used especially in cryptocurrency systems:

   When users send or receive a payment in bitcoin, network nodes verify the transaction and then record it in a shared public ledger.

3. Building Trades.
   1. a horizontal board attached to a wall to support the ends of the joists of another structure such as a deck, porch, roof, etc.:

      As the cause of the porch’s collapse, the inspector cited a ledger attached with improper screws.

   2. (in scaffolding) a horizontal board or metal tube attached to uprights, either to support the ends of the boards of a platform or for use as a handrail:

      Arrange the ledgers so the platforms slope slightly outwards, carrying rain away from the face of the building.

   3. ribbon ( def 8 ).
4. Also called ledger stone. a flat slab of stone laid over a grave or tomb:

   I had a Bible verse engraved on his ledger, ending with the words “Rest in peace.”

5. Also leger. Angling, Chiefly British. a lead sinker with a hole in one end through which the line passes, enabling the bait and the sinker to rest on the bottom and allowing the fish to take the bait without detecting the sinker:

   If fishing for bass in particular, the ledger is preferred.

Ledger

¹

/ ˈlɛdʒə /

noun

1. LedgerHeath19792008MAustralianFILMS AND TV: actor Heath(cliffe) Andrew . 1979–2008, Australian film actor. His films include The Patriot (2000), A Knight's Tale (2001) and Brokeback Mountain (2005)

ledger

²

/ ˈlɛdʒə /

noun

1. accounting the principal book in which the commercial transactions of a company are recorded
2. a flat horizontal slab of stone
3. a horizontal scaffold pole fixed to two upright poles for supporting the outer ends of putlogs
4. angling
   1. a wire trace that allows the weight to rest on the bottom and the bait to float freely
   2. ( as modifier )

      ledger tackle

verb

1. intr angling to fish using a ledger

Word History and Origins

Origin of ledger¹

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier legger “book,” probably equivalent to legg(en) “to set down, lay” + -er noun suffix; lay ¹, -er ¹, ledge

Word History and Origins

Origin of ledger¹

C15 legger book retained in a specific place, probably from leggen to lay ¹

Example Sentences

Surely, there’s a lot on this side of the ledger for the failure of the legal system, from Merrick Garland on down to line prosecutors in every jurisdiction where Trump’s crimes were committed.

From Slate

On the other side of the ledger, though, is a simple truth: Americans know all about his crimes and it really does not seem to matter to some 50 percent of us.

From Slate

Some wore masks of Heath Ledger’s depiction of the Joker with exaggerated bloody smiles and held signs reading, “Sexually violent predator not welcome here!!!” and “Keep our community safe from SVPs.”

From Los Angeles Times

Just about everything about the 2-1 loss to Greece needs to be placed in the negative half of his ledger.

From BBC

Movie buffs might be reminded of one of the final lines Heath Ledger’s Joker delivered to Batman: “I think we’re destined to do this forever.”

From Salon