dead men

See also: deadmen

English

Noun

dead men pl (normally plural, singular dead man)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dead,‎ men.
2. (nautical) The ends of reefs left flapping instead of being tucked out of sight when a sail has been furled.
3. (informal, US) The gills of edible crabs.

   Synonyms: dead men's fingers, devil's fingers

   • 1992 April 26, Nathalie Dupree, “A craving for crabs”, in The Record, Bergen County, NJ, page F1:

     Remove eyes, dead men (gills), and sand sack if necessary.

   • 2003 September 26, Michael Gartland, “Drought Forces Awendaw, S.C., Crab Festival to Import from Louisiana”, in Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, page 1:

     “I call these the lungs,” says Colleton, pointing to the gills with the dripping, short-handled knife. “The old people call them ‘dead men.’”

   • 2007 August 3, John Geiser, “Take rusties over jimmies when hunting for good-eatin’ crabs”, in Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey:

     Once the shell is off, the crab’s gills or lungs, variously called “devil’s fingers” or “dead men” are exposed. These are gray-white, feathery-looking parts that are inedible and must be scraped off and thrown away.

Anagrams

• amended, denamed