1a book or other collection of financial accounts:the total balance of the purchases ledger
2a flat stone slab covering a grave: [as modifier]:the ledger stone of William Averie
3a horizontal scaffolding pole, parallel to the face of the building.
4a weight used on a fishing line without a float, to anchor the bait in a particular place: [as modifier]:ledger tackle
verb
[no object]
fish using a ledger.
Origin:
late Middle Englishlegger, ligger (denoting a large bible or breviary), probably from variants of lay1 and lie1, influenced by Dutch legger and ligger. Current senses date from the 16th century, except the fishing senses, known from the 17th century
