definitions

dead hand

noun Law.

mortmain.

RELATED CONTENT

👌 - OK hand emoji - What does the OK hand emoji mean?Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
What Does 💁‍♀️ Person Tipping Hand Emoji Mean?Since person tipping hand emoji looks like someone flipping their hair or waving a hand while saying something sarcastic, it’s now usually used to convey sass.
READ MORE

Nearby words

dead end, dead fingers, dead firing, dead freight, dead from the neck up, dead hand, dead heart, dead heat, dead horse, dead in one's tracks, dead in the water
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for dead hand

dead hand

noun

an oppressive or discouraging influence or factorthe dead hand of centralized control
law a less common word for mortmain
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012