The correct spelling of the term used to connect a battery is "jump lead". It is pronounced as /dʒʌmp liːd/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "jump" is pronounced as /dʒʌmp/ with a soft "j" sound, while the second syllable "lead" is pronounced as /liːd/ with a long "e" sound. The term "jump lead" is commonly used in the UK and Australia, while in the US, it is referred to as "jumper cables". It is an essential item to have for cars that need a jump start due to a flat battery.
A jump lead, also commonly known as jumper cables or booster cables, is a set of specialized cables used to start a vehicle by connecting it to another vehicle or power source. It is an essential tool in any car emergency kit. The purpose of jump leads is to transfer electrical current from a healthy battery to a dead or weak battery, providing the necessary power to start the vehicle’s engine.
Jump leads typically consist of two long insulated cables, each with a clamp at one end. One cable is colored red and is attached to the positive terminal of the healthy battery, while the other cable is colored black and is connected to the negative terminal of the healthy battery. The other ends of the cables are equipped with clamps designed to connect to the terminals of the dead or weak battery.
To use jump leads, a working vehicle with a strong battery is first positioned close to the vehicle with a dead battery. The red clamp is then securely attached to the positive terminal of the dead battery, and the black clamp is connected to a suitable grounding point, such as the engine block. Once the connections are secure, the engine of the vehicle with the good battery can be started, which will allow electrical power to flow from the healthy battery to the dead battery, providing the necessary boost to start the engine.
Jump leads are an invaluable asset for drivers who find themselves with a dead battery and are a practical and convenient solution to jump-starting a stalled vehicle.
The word "jump lead" is a compound noun that consists of two parts: "jump" and "lead".
The term "jump" likely derives from the verb "to jump", which originated from the Old French word "jumper" meaning "to jump, bounce, leap". The Old French word, in turn, can be traced back to the Latin word "jubare", meaning "to shout for joy" or "to exult".
The word "lead" in this context refers to a cable or wire used for conducting electricity. Its etymology can be traced back to the Old English word "lædan", meaning "to guide or conduct". It further comes from the Proto-Germanic word "laidijaną" and the Proto-Indo-European root word "leit-".