dead weight etymology

Etymology and Origin

The term "dead weight" has its origins in the maritime industry. It refers to the weight of a ship without any cargo or crew. The term was first used in the early 17th century, and it has since been extended to other areas, including finance and economics.

Meaning

The term "dead weight" has several different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. In general, it refers to:

• Weight without cargo or crew: In the maritime industry, dead weight is the weight of a ship when it is empty. This includes the weight of the hull, engines, and other equipment.
• Burden or encumbrance: In finance and economics, dead weight refers to any expense or obligation that reduces the overall value or profitability of an asset or investment.
• Worthless or useless: In everyday language, dead weight can refer to something or someone that is not useful or productive. It can also imply that someone or something is a burden or hindrance.

Examples

Here are some examples of how the term "dead weight" is used:

• The dead weight of the ship was 10,000 tons.
• The company's high debt load was a significant dead weight on its financial performance.
• The lazy employee was just dead weight for the team.

dead weight relate terms

• dead

  Etymology Old English dead Proto Germanic dauðaz Proto Indo European dʰew Mea

• weight

  Etymology The word weight comes from the Old English word wiht which means a measur

• weigh

  Etymology From Middle English weyen from Old English wēgan from Proto Germanic wēga

• pound

  Etymology The word pound comes from the Old English pund or pundt which itself

• ponderous

  Etymology The word ponderous comes from the Latin word ponderosus which means heavy

• mark

  Etymology The name Mark is derived from the Proto Indo European root merk meaning

• poise

  Etymology The word poise has two main etymological origins Old French pois meani

• gram

  Etymology The word gram comes from the Late Latin word gramma which in turn derives

• gravity

  Etymology The word gravity is derived from the Middle English word gravite which in

• imponderable

  Etymology The word imponderable comes from the Latin words in not and pondus we

• contentment

  Etymology Old French contentement from Late Latin contēntum neuter past participle

• fairy

  Etymology The word fairy is derived from the Old French word faerie which in turn e