deadman

US: (ded′man′, -mən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dead•man  (ded′man′, -mən), n., pl. -men (-men′, -mən), adj. 
n. 

1. Building a log, concrete block, etc., buried in the ground as an anchor.
2. Building, Nautical, Naval Terms a crutchlike prop temporarily supporting a pole or mast being erected.
3. [Naut.]
   • Naval Terms an object fixed on shore to hold a mooring line temporarily.
   • Naval Terms a rope for hauling the boom of a derrick inboard after discharge of a load of cargo.

adj. 

4. Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Also, dead-man's. [Mach., Auto.] of or pertaining to a control or switch on a powered machine or vehicle that disengages a blade or clutch, applies the brake, shuts off the engine, etc., when the driver or operator ceases to press a pedal, squeeze a throttle, etc.:
   deadman throttle; dead-man's control.

• dead + man¹