Webster's English Dictionary

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derrick

der.rick \'der-ik\ n [obs. derrick hangman, gallows, fr. Derick, name of 
   17th cent. E ha]ngman 1: a hoisting apparatus employing a tackle rigged at 
   the end of a beam  2: a framework or tower over a deep drill hole (as of an 
   oil well) for supp orting boring tackle or for hoisting and lowering