deadman

D2E1A1D2M3A1N1

noun

A long object, often a timber or log, buried to serve as an anchor for a wall or for stays.

“a deadman device”

Similar
dead man's switch
UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

deadman1

noundeadman (plural deadmen)

plural deadmen

  1. businessA long object, often a timber or log, buried to serve as an anchor for a wall or for stays.

    The building code requires deadmen for retaining walls.

  2. safety equipmentagricultureA cutout device that operates in the event that an operator releases the control handles, leaves the operator's seat, or otherwise seems to be no longer present and alert.

    a deadman device

    1 more example

    [...] a Brown-Boveri deadman's control; [...].

    1962 April, “Beyond the Channel: Western Germany: The Henschel 4,000 h.p. V320 diesel”, in Modern Railways, page 274

    Synonyms: dead man's switch

Deadman2

proper nounDeadman (plural Deadmans)

plural Deadmans

  1. A surname.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA cutout device that operates in the event that an operator releases the control handles, leaves the operator's seat, or otherwise seems to be no longer present and alert.

Similar
dead man's switch

Origin

deadman · noun

From dead + man. In the sense referring to a safety switch, the notion of an operator who is dead is the figurative archetype representing any incapacitation, absence, or inattention. See also Dead Hand in that regard.

Full word history & related roots →

Deadman · proper noun

Probably from deadman.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Polish blok kotwiący
  • blok kotwiącya long object, often a timber or log, buried to serve as an anchor for a wall or for stays
Russian анкерная сва́я, анкерный кол
  • анкерная сва́я (ankernaja svája)a long object, often a timber or log, buried to serve as an anchor for a wall or for stays
  • анкерный кол (ankernyj kol)a long object, often a timber or log, buried to serve as an anchor for a wall or for stays
  • сто́йка (stójka)a long object, often a timber or log, buried to serve as an anchor for a wall or for stays
Cite this entry
APA

deadman. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deadman

MLA

“deadman.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deadman. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deadman,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deadman.

Source: deadman on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.