Sound"ing, a.
Making or emitting sound; hence, sonorous; as, sounding words.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.
Sound"ing, n.
1.
The act of one who, or that which, sounds (in any of the senses of the several verbs).
2. Naut. [From Sound to fathom.] (a)
measurement by sounding; also, the depth so ascertained.
(b)
Any place or part of the ocean, or other water, where a sounding line will reach the bottom; -- usually in the plural
. (c)
The sand, shells, or the like, that are brought up by the sounding lead when it has touched bottom.
Sounding lead, the plummet at the end of a sounding line. -- Sounding line, a line having a plummet at the end, used in making soundings. -- Sounding post Mus., a small post in a violin, violoncello, or similar instrument, set under the bridge as a support, for propagating the sounds to the body of the instrument; -- called also sound post. -- Sounding rod Naut., a rod used to ascertain the depth of water in a ship's hold. -- In soundings, within the eighty-fathom line.
Ham. Nav. Encyc.
© Webster 1913.