<hw>Deadbeat</hw>, <i>n</i>. In Australia, it means a man "down on his luck," "stone-broke," beaten by fortune. In America, the word means an impostor, a sponge. Between the two uses the connection is clear, but the Australian usage is logically the earlier.
<hw>Dead-bird</hw>, <i>n</i>. In Australia, a recent slang term, meaning "a certainty." The metaphor is from pigeon-shooting, where the bird being let loose in front of a good shot is as good as dead.
<hw>Dead-finish</hw>, <i>n</i>. a rough scrubtree.
(1)<i>Albizzia basaltica</i>, Benth., <i>N.O. Leguminosae</i>.
(2) <i>Acacia farnesiana</i>, Willd., <i>N.O. Leguminosae</i>. See quotation, 1889.
1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia', p. 272:
"On the eastern face of the coast range are pine, red cedar, and beech, and on the western slopes, rose-wood, myall, dead-finish, plum-tree, iron-wood and sandal-wood, all woods with a fine grain suitable for cabinet-making and fancy work."
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 355:
"Sometimes called by the absurd name of `Dead Finish.' This name given to some species of Acacia and Albizzia, is on account of the trees or shrubs shooting thickly from the bottom, and forming an impenetrable barrier to the traveller, who is thus brought to a `dead finish' (stop)"
1893. `The Times,' [Reprint] `Letters from Queensland,' p. 60: