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.
2. (n.) A small wingless insect, of the family Psocidae, which makes a similar but fainter sound; -- called also deathtick.
3. (n.) The guard set over a criminal before his execution.
Thesaurus Entries
agony, burial service, death agonies, death groan, death rattle, death struggle, death throes, deathbed, dirge, dying breath, eulogy, exequies, extreme unction, extremity, final extremity, funeral oration, funeral rites, last agony, last breath, last duty, last gasp, last honors, last offices, last rites, moribundity, obsequies, requiem, requiem mass, throes of death, viaticum, wake
