derrick

/ˈdɛɹɪk/

//ˈdɛɹɪk// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"derrick" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“derrick” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #15,141. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#15,141
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords
9
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A device that is used for lifting and moving large objects.

Corpus desk

Index EN-derrick · derrick · English

derrick · rank #15,141 · 9 variants · 2 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #15,141
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 2 pairs
  • VAR-MID 9 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH Cub

Nearest frequency peer: Cub (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “derrick”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “derrick” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

derrick vs Derrida
57% similar
derrick vs Derek
43% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for derrick
PropertyValue
Headwordderrick
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdɛɹɪk/
Letters7
Frequency rank#15,141
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “derrick”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).derricklands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “Cub” (#15,140), “diaper” (#15,142), “crocodile” (#15,139). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “derrick” is #15,141. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around derrick (IPA /ˈdɛɹɪk/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #15,141 among 3,470 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for derrick, with forms such as "dderrick", "derick", and "derirck". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "Derrida", "Derek", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Named after British executioner Thomas Derrick, who invented the framework arrangement commonly known by this name to aid in the conduct of executions. First use appears c. 1600 in the publication Ballad Death Earl Essex. The correct English form is derrick, spelled D-E-R-R-I-C-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    A device that is used for lifting and moving large objects.
  2. 2
    A framework that is constructed over a mine or oil well for the purpose of boring or lowering pipes.
  3. 3
    An executioner responsible for hanging convicts; a hangman.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how derrick appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. They count their ships full tale— / Their corn and oil and wine, / Derrick and loom and bale, / And rampart’s gun-flecked line; / City by City they hail: / “Hast aught to match with mine?”
  2. At some places it is possible to load or discharge a vessel without any expenditure on docks or wharves, by dealing with the cargo by hand, or by the ships derricks, or by means of floating discharging appliances while the vessel it moored to buoys in a tideway. […] At low tide it may be impracticable to use a ship's derricks [at a berth].

Etymology

Named after British executioner Thomas Derrick, who invented the framework arrangement commonly known by this name to aid in the conduct of executions. First use appears c. 1600 in the publication Ballad Death Earl Essex.

This word in other languages

machina(Español)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • dderrick
  • derick
  • derirck
  • derrcik
  • derricck
  • derrickk
  • derrikc
  • drerick
  • edrrick

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of derrick - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

dderrick1derick1derirck2derrcik2derricck1derrickk1derrikc2drerick2
Edit distance from "derrick"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "derrick"?
"derrick" is spelled D-E-R-R-I-C-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɛɹɪk/.
What does "derrick" mean?
As a noun, "derrick" means: A device that is used for lifting and moving large objects.
What words are commonly confused with "derrick"?
"derrick" is commonly confused with "Derrida", "Derek". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "derrick"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "derrick" is /ˈdɛɹɪk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "derrick"?
Named after British executioner Thomas Derrick, who invented the framework arrangement commonly known by this name to aid in the conduct of executions. First use appears c. 1600 in the publication Ballad Death Earl Essex. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "derrick", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

commits#15,135dubious#15,150eagerly#15,153chilled#15,125

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (9 here; floor ≥5).

Dudley9 variantsdurant9 variantsbumped9 variantsbraces9 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list