Meaning of Deadhead | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A person either admitted to a theatrical or musical performance without charge, or paid to attend.
2. A fan of the rock band Grateful Dead.
   slang
3. An employee of a transport company, especially a pilot or flight attendant, traveling as a passenger for logistical reasons, for example to return home or travel to the next assignment.
4. Anyone traveling for free, without paying the expected fare.
5. A train or truck moved between cities with no passengers or freight, in order to make it available for service.
6. A person staying at a lodging, such as a hotel or boarding house, without paying rent; freeloader.
7. A stupid or boring person; dullard.
8. A tree or tree branch fixed in the bottom of a river or other navigable body of water, partially submerged or rising nearly the surface, by which boats are sometimes pierced and sunk; snag.
9. Driftwood.
   slang
10. A zombie.
    slang

Equivalents

Examples

“Among the Romans.... The free admission tickets were small ivory death's heads, and specimens of these are to be seen in the Museum of Naples. From this custom, it is stated, that we derive our word “Deadhead,” as denoting one who has a free entrance to places of amusement.”

“[…] we critics were not his fellow-guests, but simply deadheads whose business it was to "dress the house" and write puffs.”

“Are you my deadhead to Miami?”

“With the check came two through tickets—good on the railroad from Hawkeye to Washington via New York—and they were “deadhead” tickets, too, which had been given to Senator Dilworthy by the railway companies. Senators and representatives were paid thousands of dollars by the government for traveling expenses, but they always traveled “deadhead” both ways, and then did as any honorable, high-minded men would naturally do—declined to receive the mileage tendered them by the government. The Senator had plenty of railway passes, and could. easily spare two to Laura—one for herself and one for a male escort.”

“I reckon I won't take the vote of any deadhead passenger.”

“PASSENGER One who does not travel on a pass. (Antonym for Deadhead). From Eng. pass, to go, and Grk. endidomi, to give up. One who has to give up to go.”

“The yap that kicks and rings a deadhead call Must either spend or else get off the car.”

“For the Caput mortuum (or deadhead, in vulgar phrase) is apt to be furnished with a Venter vivus, or, as we may say, a lively appetite.”

“Haviland had a sense of humor; it would make a story too good to keep--the new oil operator, the magnificent and mysterious New York financier, a “deadhead” at the Ajax. Oh, murder!”

“1967, James Jones, Go to the Widow-Maker, Delacorte Press (1967), 72, “Listen, you two deadheads,” he growled at them, more viciously energetic than he meant, and both turned to stare. He softened his tone. “What's going on here, anyway? What kind of a morgue is this? Is this any way to spend my last four days in town? Come on, let's all go out and do something.””

“A portable sawmill crew dredges the riverbed for sunken deadheads, many of which drowned during the hell-for-leather log-drives of the glory days. Rows of these mud-stained corpses are drawn up on shore at the old landings—all in perfect condition, and some of great value, for no such pine exists in the north woods today.”

“I was dreaming about working at Wal-Mart before the deadheads came.”

“Out on the road today / I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac”

CEFR level