deadman

noun

dead·man ˈded-ˌman

: an anchor (such as a metal plate) buried in snow and used (as in mountain climbing) to secure a rope

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of deadman was circa 1852

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Deadman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deadman. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 4 Nov 2025 - Definition revised

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conciliatory

Listen to the pronunciation of conciliatory

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Using Bullet Points ( • )

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

Popular

Using Bullet Points ( • )

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs