DCHP-1 Online

deadfall ((n.))

• 1 a kind of animal trap. See 1853 quote.

  See also: deadfall trap  deathfall  fall-trap  figure-(of-)four trap  log trap (def. 1)  

  • 1771  (1911)  [These people . . . do not trouble to catch furs, not being furnished with traps; nor do they understand the use of deathfalls.]
  • 1853  The method pursued by the trappers and Indians is to blaze a line through the bush for several miles. Along this line is set, at intervals of one or two hundred yards, a kind of trap, called a dead fall which is constructed thus: -- Two rows of short sticks are driven into the ground about one foot apart, open only at one end, the top being covered with brush-wood at the entrance. A piece of wood two or three feet long is bedded into the ground, or snow, as the case may be. The falling pole is supported immediately over this by three pieces of stick notched together in the form of a figure of four. The centre-stick is made long and sharp at the point, to which the bait is attached, and projects well into the miniature house. The marten or fisher, allured by the bait, reaches in to snatch it, which springs the trap, and causes the pole to fall across the neck of the animal, which is instantly killed by the blow.
  • 1956  The commonest type of trap was a deadfall, in which the animal, trying to take the bait, disturbed a trigger which let a heavy log fall on its back, killing it.

• 2 a tract of forest cluttered with dead and fallen trees.

  See also: dead stand timber  timberfall  

  • 1912  The little trees, a cut here, a slash there . . . cross the crick, first deadfall, more lops, a number one trap empty. . . .
  • 1963  Walking in heavy snow and deadfall is too hard work for me.

• 3 a single dead tree that has been blown to the ground.

  • 1921  After . . . climbing over dead falls and crossing many creeks, I struck the lake. . . .
  • 1962  Herbie . . . struck out at once with a short crosscut saw and an axe to clear the trail of any deadfalls. . . .