Deadline
/ˈdɛd.laɪn/noun
A due date or time by which something must be completed.
Did you know?The term 'deadline' originated in the Civil War, referring to a boundary beyond which prisoners could be shot.
Etymological Timeline
1850s
English
deadline
“A line drawn around a military prison beyond which a prisoner would be shot.”
19th Century
English
deadline
“Transitioned to mean any limit or cutoff, especially in journalism.”
20th Century
English
deadline
“Expanded in use to encompass any project due date or final time limit.”
21st Century
English
deadline
“Commonly used in various fields, maintaining its connotations of urgency and finality.”