/der"ik/ , n.
1. Mach. a jib crane having a boom hinged near the base of the mast so as to rotate about the mast, for moving a load toward or away from the mast by raising or lowering the boom.
2. Also called oil derrick . the towerlike framework over an oil well or the like.
3. a boom for lifting cargo, pivoted at its inner end to a ship's mast or kingpost, and raised and supported at its outer end by topping lifts.
v.t. , v.i.
4. Mach. luff.
[ orig. a hangman, the gallows, after the surname of a well-known Tyburn hangman, ca. 1600 ]