Timber's Term of the Week: Deadhead

Deadhead

n

1. A log in the water, either completely submerged or primarily submerged.
   
2. A sinker log
   

Before railroads and trucking, most goods came by water. Trees felled, would be cut into log lengths, lashed into log rafts,  and floated down river. Some logs would sink. Some logs would only reveal a small portion of itself, resembling a head. The log’s ultimate destination could be a mill for sawing into dimension lumber or a port where they might be shipped elsewhere.

See also:

• Seminole Tribune article about deadhead logging in rivers of Florida.
• A deadhead logger’s website: About Recovered Hollow Log.
• Athen Banner-Herald article about deadhead logging in rivers of Georgia.

Greatful Dead