The chemical symbol for lead is Pb for the Latin “plumbum”, a word that was generally used to refer to soft metal. This same root is evident in other common words that are related to lead. Lead-work, especially lead piping, was called “plumbing,” and one who works with lead, a “plumber.” A hanging level composed of a lead weight attached to a string is called a “plumb-bob,” and even words like “plummet” and “plunge” can trace their origins back to lead in some way.