Deadpan, an adjective used to describe a flat or unsmiling affect, as in deadpan humor, derives from the use of pan as a slang term for “face.” This is part of a complete episode.
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While the earliest known use of “dead pan” in print is from the sports pages of the St. Louis Star and Times in 1915, that particular 1915 quote says it originated with actors. Here’s a deep dive into its origin: https://etymology.kenliss.com/blog/?p=490