Wiktionary
n. (context cricket English) The bat when held with a light grip such that it gives when the ball strikes it, and the ball loses momentum and falls to the ground. vb. (context transitive cricket English) To play (the ball) with a dead bat.
Usage examples of "dead bat".
The Harskeel walked to Conan's fallen blade and wrenched it free of the dead bat.
We followed the same procedure as with Snow Hill Station, but afterwards, when it was safe to enter, we found not one single dead bat.
Nobody'll volunteer for midnight to four some night, and whoever comes on next will look in and see the trunk-lid up and another dead bat on the floor.
It was torn and bloody, with the dead bat lying twisted in its folds.
Outside, I found a dead bat nailed to the tree by a crossbow bolt.
Roland had added a flashlight that provided a feeble glow from nearly dead bat.
With an expression of disgust he shook the dead bat-winged thing off his sword and looked at the blackish stain on the blade.
The black wizard gestured casually, and the dead bat instantly disappeared.