Lexic.us

Definition of Deathwatch

1. Noun. Minute wingless psocopterous insects injurious to books and papers.

2. Noun. Bores through wood making a ticking sound popularly thought to presage death.

Definition of Deathwatch

1. n. A small beetle (Anobium tessellatum and other allied species). By forcibly striking its head against woodwork it makes a ticking sound, which is a call of the sexes to each other, but has been imagined by superstitious people to presage death.

Definition of Deathwatch

1. Noun. A vigil besides a dying person ¹

2. Noun. One who guards a condemned person before execution. ¹

3. Noun. A deathwatch beetle. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Deathwatch

1. [n -ES]

Medical Definition of Deathwatch

1. 1. A small beetle (Anobium tessellatum and other allied species). By forcibly striking its head against woodwork it makes a ticking sound, which is a call of the sexes to each other, but has been imagined by superstitious people to presage death. A small wingless insect, of the family Psocidae, which makes a similar but fainter sound; called also deathtick. "She is always seeing apparitions and hearing deathwatches." (Addison) "I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the deathwatch beat." (Tennyson) 2. The guard set over a criminal before his execution. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Deathwatch

deathpunk deathrate deathray deathrays deathrock deathrocker deathrockers deaths deaths by cop deathsman

deathsmen deathtime deathtrap deathtraps deathward deathwatch beetle deathwatch beetles deathwatches deathwish deathwishes

deathworthy deathy deauration deauthorise deauthorised deauthorises deauthorising deauthorize deauthorized

Literary usage of Deathwatch

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Poets and Poetry of Europe: With Introductions and Biographical Notices by Cornelius Conway Felton (1871)
"deathwatch. Pi, pi, pi, No hope for thee. Is this thine only chant, ... deathwatch. No hope for thee. ALADDIN. Ha ! insect ! — what is this ? ..."

2. The Poets and Poetry of Europe: With Introductions and Biographical Notices by Cornelius Conway Felton (1845)
"deathwatch. Pi, pi, pi, No hope for thee. Is this thine only chant, ... deathwatch. Pi! ALADDIN. Well, — be it as it may, — my hope is gone. ..."

3. Aladdin, Or, The Wonderful Lamp: A Dramatic Poem in 2 Parts by Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger, Theodore Martin (1863)
"deathwatch (in a crevice of the wall). Pi, pi, pi, Ne'er shall them go free! ... 'Tis the deathwatch. Again ? deathwatch. Pi, pi, pi, Ne'er shalt thou go ..."

4. Aladdin, Or, The Wonderful Lamp: A Dramatic Poem in 2 Parts by Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger, Theodore Martin (1863)
"deathwatch. Pi, pi, pi, Ne'er shalt thou go free! ALADDIN. Is this the only carol thou hast learned, Thou hermit small, who in the loneliness Of crumbling ..."

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