n. /ded"beet'/ ; adj. /ded"beet"/ , n.
1. a person who deliberately avoids paying debts.
2. a loafer; sponger.
adj.
3. Horol. noting any of various escapements acting without recoil of the locking parts from the shock of contact. See diag. under escapement .
4. Elect. (of the indicator of an electric meter and the like) coming to a stop with little or no oscillation.
[ 1760-70; DEAD + BEAT ]