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deadman

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Deadman and dead man

English

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Etymology

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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.

Noun

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deadman (plural deadmen)

  1. (obsolete) A corpse
    There is no deadman to be found at Deadman's Curve.
  2. (construction) A 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.
  3. (rail transport, manufacturing, agriculture, safety equipment) A 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.
    Synonym: dead man's switch
    • 1962 April, “Beyond the Channel: Western Germany: The Henschel 4,000 h.p. V320 diesel”, in Modern Railways, page 274:
      [...] a Brown-Boveri deadman's control; [...].

Derived terms

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Translations

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Anagrams

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