Dictionary

dead man en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. A dead man's switch.
2. (slang) A bottle of alcoholic drink that has been consumed.
3. (UK, obsolete, slang) An extra loaf stolen from a bakery by a servant who smuggles it into the customer's basket (and sometimes fraudulently charges it to the customer).
   • A crusty loaf at your service — but master gets over-crusty, 'cause last week's bill ar'nt paid. I'm no "snatcher," altho' now and then I make "a dead man." […] We all admit the baker's skill, / To charge a dead man in his bill; […] 1833, Francis West, Fun for winter evenings, page 27:
4. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of deadman.
   alt of deadman

Forms

Deriveds

dead man's arm · dead man's brake · dead man's switch · dead man's fingers · dead man's hand · dead man walking · dead man's handle

Synonyms

dead soldier · dead marine