dead 'un
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A horse that will not run or will not try in a race, and against which money may be safely wagered.
Register: archaic, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
If this is the way lotteries are to be conducted, the unfortunate backers are worse off than when they confide themselves to the tender mercies of the "howling dervishes" of the "ring at home," who, if they do occasionally serve up a "dead 'un" rather "warm", are yet amenable to racing law, which on
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “dead 'un” mean?
A horse that will not run or will not try in a race, and against which money may be safely wagered.
Is “dead 'un” formal or informal?
dead 'un is generally archaic, slang.