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"closed end of a passage," 1851 in reference to drainpipes, 1874 in reference to railway lines; by 1886 of streets; from dead (adj.) + end (n.). Figurative use, "course of action that leads nowhere," is by 1914. As an adjective in the figurative sense by 1917; as a verb by 1921. Related: Dead-ended; dead-ending; deadender (by 1996).

palatal (adj.)

1728, of sounds, "uttered by the aid of the palate," from palate + -al (1). By 1786 as "of or pertaining to the roof of the mouth." As a noun, "a sound or letter usually produced by the upper surface of the tongue against a part of the palate," by 1762.

average (adj.)

1770, "estimated by averaging," from average (n.). By 1803 as "equal in amount to the sum of all particular quantities divided by the number of them," hence "of medium character."

lawn-mower (n.)

1853 as a type of machine to cut grass, from lawn (n.1) + mower. Originally pushed by hand or drawn by horses, later also powered by a motor.

frank (n.)

short for frankfurter, by 1916, American English. Franks and beans attested by 1953.

nudification (n.)

"a making naked," by 1838, perhaps from French nudification (by 1833); see nude + -fication.

moorings (n.)

1744, "ropes, etc., by which a floating thing is confined or made fast," from mooring. Figurative sense of "that to which anything is fastened or by which it is held" is by 1851.

aggro (n.)

by 1969, originally British underworld and juvenile delinquent slang, short for aggravation in a colloquial sense "trouble or disturbance provoked by aggressive behavior or harassment" (by 1939).

photography (n.)

"the art of producing images by application of chemical changes produced by certain substances by the action of light or other radiant energy," 1839, from photo- + -graphy. See photograph.

manually (adv.)

"by hand, by means of the hand," late 15c., from manual (adj.) + -ly (2).

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