deadman

American  

[ded-man, -muhn] / ˈdɛdˌmæn, -mən /

noun

plural

deadmen

1. Building Trades. a log, concrete block, etc., buried in the ground as an anchor.

2. a crutchlike prop temporarily supporting a pole or mast being erected.

3. Nautical.

   1. an object fixed on shore to hold a mooring line temporarily.

   2. a rope for hauling the boom of a derrick inboard after discharge of a load of cargo.

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adjective

1. Machinery, Automotive. Also dead-man's. of or relating 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.

deadman British  

/ ˈdɛdˌmæn /

noun

1. civil engineering a heavy plate, wall, or block buried in the ground that acts as an anchor for a retaining wall, sheet pile, etc, by a tie connecting the two

2. mountaineering a metal plate with a wire loop attached for thrusting into firm snow to serve as a belay point, a smaller version being known as a deadboy

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Etymology

Origin of deadman

dead + man

Example Sentences

When the rig’s control panels fail, two separate backup systems, the deadman and the autoshear, are supposed to close the blind shear ram automatically.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2010

Many of these phrases sound peculiar to ears hearing them for the first time, but their functions are as serious as . . . a failed deadman switch.

From Washington Post • May 26, 2010

And industry experts pointed out that in the current spill, if the regular and deadman switches could not activate the rams, an acoustic switch would not have worked either.

From New York Times • May 10, 2010

A deadman device fires some of the switches if both electric and hydraulic power are lost.

From New York Times • May 10, 2010

All this rushed through Torak’s mind as he stared at the deadman.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver