dead men

singular dead man

1. pluralplural normallyUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dead, men.
2. pluralplural normallynauticalThe ends of reefs left flapping instead of being tucked out of sight when a sail has been furled.
3. USinformalpluralplural normallyThe gills of edible crabs.

   Remove eyes, dead men (gills), and sand sack if necessary.

   1992 April 26, Nathalie Dupree, “A craving for crabs”, in The Record, Bergen County, NJ, page F1

   2 more examples

   “I call these the lungs,” says Colleton, pointing to the gills with the dripping, short-handled knife. “The old people call them ‘dead men.’”

   2003 September 26, Michael Gartland, “Drought Forces Awendaw, S.C., Crab Festival to Import from Louisiana”, in Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, page 1

   Once the shell is off, the crab’s gills or lungs, variously called “devil’s fingers” or “dead men” are exposed. These are gray-white, feathery-looking parts that are inedible and must be scraped off and thrown away.

   2007 August 3, John Geiser, “Take rusties over jimmies when hunting for good-eatin’ crabs”, in Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey

   Synonyms: dead men's fingers, devil's fingers