| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
deck (dɛk) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | nautical any of various platforms built into a vessel: a promenade deck; the poop deck |
| 2. | a similar floor or platform, as in a bus |
| 3. | a. the horizontal platform that supports the turntable and pick-up of a record player |
| b. See tape deck | |
| 4. | chiefly (US) a pack of playing cards |
| 5. | obsolete computing Also called: pack a collection of punched cards relevant to a particular program |
| 6. | a raised wooden platform built in a garden to provide a seating area |
| 7. | informal clear the decks to prepare for action, as by removing obstacles from a field of activity or combat |
| 8. | informal hit the deck |
| a. to fall to the floor or ground, esp in order to avoid injury | |
| b. to prepare for action | |
| c. to get out of bed | |
| —vb | |
| 9. | ( |
| 10. | to build a deck on (a vessel) |
| 11. | slang to knock (a person) to the floor or ground |
| [C15: from Middle Dutch dec a covering; related to | |
| 'decker | |
| —n | |
deck definition
|
on deck
Available, ready for action, as in We had ten kids on deck to clean up after the dance. [Slang; second half of 1800s]
In baseball, scheduled to bat next, waiting near home plate to bat, as in Joe was on deck next. [1860s] Both usages allude to crew members being on the deck of a ship, in readiness to perform their duties.