n.1 a tall narrow book in which a firm's accounts are kept, esp. one which is the principal book of a set and contains debtor-and-creditor accounts.
2 a flat gravestone.
3 a horizontal timber in scaffolding, parallel to the face of the building.
Phrases and idioms:
ledger line Mus. LEGER LINE. ledger-tackle a kind of fishing tackle in which a lead weight keeps the bait on the bottom.
Etymology: ME f. senses of Du. ligger and legger (f. liggen LIE(1), leggen LAY(1)) & pronunc. of ME ligge, legge