Main Entry: der·rick

Pronunciation: \ˈder-ik, ˈde-rik\

Function: noun

Etymology: obsolete derrick hangman, gallows, from Derick, name of 17th century English hangman

Date: circa 1752

1 : a hoisting apparatus employing a tackle rigged at the end of a beam
2 : a framework or tower over a deep drill hole (as of an oil well) for supporting boring tackle or for hoisting and lowering

[derrick illustration]