DEADBEAT


Meaning of DEADBEAT in English

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 ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .