Definition of Deathwatch

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

Exact synonyms: Book Louse, Booklouse, Liposcelis Divinatorius
Generic synonyms: Psocopterous Insect
Group relationships: Genus Liposcelis, Liposcelis
Specialized synonyms: Common Booklouse, Trogium Pulsatorium

2. Noun. Bores through wood making a ticking sound popularly thought to presage death.
Exact synonyms: Deathwatch Beetle, Xestobium Rufovillosum
Generic synonyms: Beetle
Group relationships: Anobiidae, Family Anobiidae

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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