= the gate of death at gate, n.1 3b.

Phrases. the gate(s of heaven, gates of hell, gates of paradise, where the word may originally have been apprehended in a material sense. Also the…

With possessive or (later) the. The final day or moments of a person's life; the end of life, death.

(in) the article (formerly also †articles) of death: (at) the moment of death.

a door imagined to stand between life and death; a near approach to, or great danger of, death, esp. through illness; chiefly in at death's door…

shadow of death: a Biblical expression (= Septuagint and New Testament σκιὰ θανάτου, Vulgate umbra mortis) embodying an ancient interpretation of…

(one's) last gasp: the final attempt to draw breath before dying. at the last gasp: at the point of death; in later use frequently figurative; cf…

= death's door n. at compounds 3c; frequently attributive.

A person's last moments; the ‘article of death’. archaic.

At or near the end of one's life; close to death.

figurative. The end of life.

In North American, Australian usage, etc.: A ridge or line of high ground forming the division between two river valleys or systems; a watershed…