dead wood

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dead·wood (d

)

1. Dead branches or wood on a tree.

2. One that is burdensome or superfluous.

3. also dead wood Sports Fallen bowling pins that remain on the alley.

4. Nautical The vertical planking between the keel of a vessel and the sternpost, serving as a reinforcement.

dead wood

Noun

Informal people or things that are no longer useful

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? References in classic literature

And, provided with a lentil, he lighted a fire of dead wood that crackled joyously.

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Verne, Jules View in context

I had to keep guessing at the channel; I had to discern, mostly by inspiration, the signs of hidden banks; I watched for sunken stones; I was learning to clap my teeth smartly before my heart flew out, when I shaved by a fluke some infernal sly old snag that would have ripped the life out of the tin-pot steamboat and drowned all the pilgrims; I had to keep a look-out for the signs of dead wood we could cut up in the night for next day's steaming.

Heart of Darkness by Conrad, Joseph View in context

The grass was high and thick, affording feed for her horse and a bed for herself, and there was more than enough dead wood lying about the trees to furnish a good fire well through the night.

Tarzan the Untamed by Burroughs, Edgar Rice View in context

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