A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Ledger lines

by George Grove

LEDGER LINES are the short lines drawn above and below the staff for those notes which exceed its limits. The origin of the term is not known. It is proposed to derive it from the French léger, light, or from the Latin legere, to read, or as if it were equivalent to layer—additional lines laid on above or below; but neither of these is quite satisfactory. The term came into use about the year 1700 (see Mr. C. J. Evans in the Musical Times for June 1879). In French they are called 'lignes postiches,' or 'supplémentaires'; and in German 'hilfslinien,' or 'nebenlinien,' A, C, etc. being said to be 'durch den Kopf,' and B, D, etc. 'durch den Hals'—'ein, zwei, drei, gestrichene,' etc.

[ G. ]