deathwatch

death·watch

D0060600 (dĕth′wŏch′)n.1. A vigil kept beside a dying or dead person.2. One who guards a condemned person before execution.3. A deathwatch beetle.

deathwatch

(ˈdɛθˌwɒtʃ) n1. a vigil held beside a dying or dead person2. (Animals) deathwatch beetle a beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum, whose woodboring larvae are a serious pest. The adult produces a rapid tapping sound with its head that was once popularly supposed to presage death. See also anobiid

death•watch

(ˈdɛθˌwɒtʃ, -ˌwɔtʃ)

n. 1. a vigil beside a dying or dead person. 2. a guard set over a person before execution. 3. Also called death′watch bee`tle. any of several beetles of the family Anobiidae that make a ticking sound as they bore through wood: the sound was once believed to be an omen of death. [1660–70]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	deathwatch - minute wingless psocopterous insects injurious to books and papersbook louse, booklouse, Liposcelis divinatoriuspsocopterous insect - small soft-bodied insect with chewing mouthparts and either no wings or two pairsgenus Liposcelis, Liposcelis - a genus of Psocidaecommon booklouse, Trogium pulsatorium - a variety of booklouse
	2.	deathwatch - bores through wood making a ticking sound popularly thought to presage deathdeathwatch beetle, Xestobium rufovillosumbeetle - insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wingsAnobiidae, family Anobiidae - deathwatch beetles