Deadfall

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdÉ›dfɔːɫ/
• US enPR: dÄ•dʹfäl, IPA: /ˈdÉ›dfÉ‘l/

Origin

From dead + fall.

Full definition of deadfall

Noun

1. (US) A kind of trap for large animals, consisting of a heavy board or log that falls on to the prey.
2. deadwood
3. (US, slang) A cheap, rough saloon or bar.
• 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 406:They had lived down in horse barns, army “A” tents with the old blood-stains onto them, city hotels with canopy beds, woke up in back rooms of deadfalls where the bars had toothmarks end to end.

Synonyms

• trap: deadfall trap
• cheap, rough bar: dive

Derived terms

• deadfall trap