noun
- a device consisting of a dovetailed iron tenon that fits into a dovetailed mortise in a stone, used for lifting heavy stones
Usage: construction; masonry
Examples
- The mason used a lewis to lift the heavy cornerstone into place.
- Construction workers attached the lewis to the crane before moving the marble block.
- The ancient builders must have used some form of lewis to position those massive stones.
- Without a proper lewis, moving the granite slabs would be nearly impossible.
- The lewis gripped the stone securely as it was hoisted to the second floor.