"made of lead," Old English leaden, from lead (n.1) + -en (2). The figurative sense of "heavy, oppressive, dull" is attested by 1570s. Related: Leadenly; leadenness.
a leaden weight
the sky was leaden and thick
his leaden arms
leaden steps
a leaden conversation
lea
leach
leachate
lead
leaded
leaden
leader
leaderless
leadership
lead-in
leading