diff --git a/include/boost/python/def.hpp b/include/boost/python/def.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..084b64a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/boost/python/def.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+// Copyright David Abrahams 2002. Permission to copy, use,
+// modify, sell and distribute this software is granted provided this
+// copyright notice appears in all copies. This software is provided
+// "as is" without express or implied warranty, and with no claim as
+// to its suitability for any purpose.
+#ifndef DEF_DWA200292_HPP
+# define DEF_DWA200292_HPP
+
+# include <boost/python/object_fwd.hpp>
+# include <boost/python/make_function.hpp>
+# include <boost/python/detail/def_helper.hpp>
+# include <boost/python/detail/defaults_def.hpp>
+# include <boost/python/scope.hpp>
+
+namespace boost { namespace python { 
+
+namespace detail
+{
+  void BOOST_PYTHON_DECL scope_setattr_doc(char const* name, object const& obj, char const* doc);
+
+  template <class Fn, class CallPolicyOrDoc>
+  void
+  dispatch_def(
+      char const* name,
+      Fn fn,
+      CallPolicyOrDoc const& policy_or_doc,
+      char const* doc,
+      void const*)
+  {
+      typedef detail::def_helper<CallPolicyOrDoc> helper;
+
+      detail::scope_setattr_doc(
+          name, boost::python::make_function(fn, helper::get_policy(policy_or_doc)),
+          helper::get_doc(policy_or_doc, doc));
+  }
+
+  template <typename StubsT, typename SigT>
+  void
+  dispatch_def(
+      char const* name,
+      SigT sig,
+      StubsT const& stubs,
+      char const* doc,
+      detail::func_stubs_base const*)
+  {
+      //  convert sig to a type_list (see detail::get_signature in signature.hpp)
+      //  before calling detail::define_with_defaults.
+      scope current;
+      detail::define_with_defaults(name, stubs, current, detail::get_signature(sig), doc);
+  }
+}
+
+template <class Fn>
+void def(char const* name, Fn fn)
+{
+    detail::scope_setattr_doc(name, boost::python::make_function(fn), 0);
+}
+
+template <class Arg1T, class Arg2T>
+void def(char const* name, Arg1T arg1, Arg2T const& arg2, char const* doc = 0)
+{
+    detail::dispatch_def(name, arg1, arg2, doc, &arg2);
+}
+
+
+}} // namespace boost::python
+
+#endif // DEF_DWA200292_HPP