Dead branches or wood from trees; also used figuratively to mean something useless, outdated, or people who don't contribute anything valuable.
From 'dead' + 'wood,' a literal compound describing dead tree branches. Metaphorical use became common in business and military jargon in the early 20th century.
Forests actually need deadwood—insects, fungi, and animals depend on rotting logs for food and shelter, so it's not completely 'dead' but rather supporting an entire secret ecosystem of decomposition.
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