ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷; in sense 1 “ or ˈ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun
1. : wood dead on the tree : dead branches
2. : useless personnel or material (as inefficient members of an organization, unsalable stock, or outworn methods)
a definite campaign against human deadwood still clogging the system — Ezra Pound
3. : solid timbers usually horizontal and built in at the extreme bow and stern of a ship where the breadth is not such as to permit framing
4. : bowling pins that have been knocked down but remain on the alley
5.
a. : unmatched cards in gin or knock rummy
b. : useless cards (as those that have been discarded)
6. : type or spacing matter temporarily keyboarded or inserted in typeset matter to make room for something (as a vertical rule in a table) to be inserted later
7. chiefly West : unquestioned advantage — used especially in the expression have the deadwood on
we've got the deadwood on you on a forgery charge — Erle Stanley Gardner