deadline
UK[ˈdedlaɪn]US[ˈdedlaɪn]
n
a time or date by which something must be done
Morpheme Breakdown
dead
line
dead
lifeless, absolute
line
cord, boundary
Etymology
the term 'deadline' originated in the american civil war, referring to a literal line drawn within or around a prison camp. prisoners who crossed this line would be shot dead. this literal 'dead line' powerfully conveyed an absolute, non-negotiable boundary. by the early 20th century, the term was adopted in journalism and business, metaphorically transferring the sense of a fatal boundary to a final time limit. the modern abstract meaning retains the core idea of an absolute limit, the crossing of which results in failure or serious consequences.
Analysis
Structure: dead + line
dead (old english, meaning 'lifeless, absolute'); line (old english, meaning 'cord, boundary')
Examples
the deadline for submitting applications is friday at 5 pm.
she worked through the night to meet the project deadline.
we are facing a tight deadline, so we need to focus.