Dead, a. 1. (Elec.) Carrying no current, or producing no useful effect; — said of a conductor in a dynamo or motor, also of a telegraph wire which has no instrument attached and, therefore, is not in use.
2. Out of play; regarded as out of the game; — said of a ball, a piece, or a player under certain conditions in cricket, baseball, checkers, and some other games.
, a ball is said to lie dead when it lies so near the hole that the player is certain to hole it in the next stroke. Encyc. of Sport.