dead hand

noun Law.

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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