deadwood: Meaning and Definition of

dead•wood

Pronunciation: (ded'wood"), [key]
— n.
  1. the dead branches on a tree; dead branches or trees.
  2. useless or burdensome persons or things: He cut the deadwood from his staff.
  3. (in writing) unnecessary words, phrases, or exposition; expendable verbiage.
  4. a solid construction, serving only as reinforcement, located between the keel of a vessel and the stem or sternpost.
  5. pins remaining on the alley after having been knocked down by the ball.
    1. Rummy.cards in a hand that have not been included in sets and are usually counted as points against the holder.
    2. Poker.cards that have been discarded.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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