A heavy timber, block, or anchor set into the ground to serve as a fixed point for securing ropes, cables, or guy-wires.
From 'dead' (fixed, immovable) and 'man' (originally meaning a general human being, before gender specification). The term uses 'dead' to mean 'stationary' or 'not moving,' as these anchors remained permanently fixed.
A 'deadman' isn't dead at all—it's a construction and engineering term where 'dead' simply means 'absolutely stationary.' You'll see deadmen buried under tents, construction sites, and transmission lines holding guy-wires tight in wind storms.
Generic 'man' was historically default terminology for tools and fixtures despite use by all genders. This linguistic pattern reinforced the assumption that tools and technical fields were inherently masculine.
Use gender-neutral alternatives like 'deadweight', 'anchor', or 'fixed point' depending on context.
["deadweight","anchor","fixed point","stay"]
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