deadwood
the dead branches on a tree; dead branches or trees.
useless or burdensome persons or things: He cut the deadwood from his staff.
(in writing) unnecessary words, phrases, or exposition; expendable verbiage: This could be a thoughtful and incisive essay if you get rid of the deadwood.
Nautical. a solid construction, serving only as reinforcement, located between the keel of a vessel and the stem or sternpost.
Bowling. pins remaining on the alley after having been knocked down by the ball.
Cards.
Rummy. cards in a hand that have not been included in sets and are usually counted as points against the holder.
Poker. cards that have been discarded.
Origin of deadwood
1Words Nearby deadwood
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use deadwood in a sentence
One juniper in particular, by the artist Naoki Maeoka, still gives me chills with its wild ribbons of deadwood and manicured clouds of foliage.
I thought for a minute that I had put on my deadwood DVD by mistake.
In Dinesh D’Souza’s ‘America,’ Slavery Wasn’t So Bad, but Hillary and Barack Are Socialist Devils | Andrew Romano | June 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 2004, I was in grad school, and deadwood, The Wire, and The Sopranos were all on HBO.
Inside the Obsessive, Strange Mind of True Detective’s Nic Pizzolatto | Andrew Romano | February 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor the time being, the girls are living with friends in deadwood, South Dakota.
The Westboro Defectors Speak: Phelps Granddaughters Embrace Tolerance | John Avlon | March 8, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTMilch, who wrote such superb shows as NYPD Blue and deadwood and also penned Luck, is a disgrace as well.
HBO’s ‘Luck’ Runs Out as Show Is Canceled After Three Horses Die | Buzz Bissinger | March 19, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Ferguson later quipped, "Better plywood leadership than deadwood leadership!"
Mollett's theory is that it is better to cut away every inch of deadwood which is not absolutely necessary for preventing leeway.
Yachting Vol. 2 | Various.Three hours later Billy and the sobered tenderfoot pulled into deadwood.
Blazed Trail Stories | Stewart Edward WhiteFor the moment Napoleon's little neighbor was troubled by no sense of duty; the only question was how to reach deadwood.
Napoleon's Young Neighbor | Helen Leah ReedSeveral months before, it had been the custom to send a “treasure-coach” twice a week from deadwood to Sidney, Nebraska.
The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce | Ambrose BierceWe had a premonition that Elise wouldn't want the deadwood of Jimmie's former Division.
The Gay Cockade | Temple Bailey
British Dictionary definitions for deadwood
/ (ˈdɛdˌwʊd) /
dead trees or branches
informal a useless person; encumbrance
nautical a filler piece between the keel and the stern of a wooden vessel
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
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