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Definition of derrick

derrick

/ˈdɛr.ɪk/
der · rick
Plural:derricks
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derrick Lexical Profile

derrick Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A tall framework or tower built over a deep drill hole, especially an oil well, used to support the boring equipment and hoist and lower lengths of pipe.

Example

"The steel derrick rose high above the desert floor, marking the site of the new exploratory oil well."

2

A kind of crane with a movable pivoted arm or boom used for lifting and moving heavy weights, especially on ships and docks.

Example

"Dockworkers used a heavy-duty derrick to hoist the shipping containers onto the cargo vessel."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for derrick

• Rhymes for derrick

• Nearby Words

derogatively
derogatory
derp
derrick
derriere
derry
des

Word Origin & Etymology

Named after Thomas Derrick, a notorious late 16th- and early 17th-century English executioner at Tyburn who devised a gallows featuring a pulley hoisting system. The surname originally referred to a gallows before transferring to mechanical hoisting cranes and eventually oil-drilling towers.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Derrick. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/derrick
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