death-bell
(ˈdɛθbɛl)
Also dead-bell (Sc. deid-bell).
1. A bell tolled at the death of a person; a passing-bell.
| 1781 C. J. Fielding Brothers, The Village death-bell's distant sound. 1784 Cowper Task ii. 51 A world that seems To toll the death-bell of its own decease. 1889 E. Peacock in Cath. Household 5 Jan. 13/3 The custom of ringing the death-bell at night. |
| β a 1740 Barbara Allan viii. in Child Ballads (1886) iv. 277/2 She heard the dead-bell ringing. 18.. Whittier Cry of Lost Soul iv, The guide, as if he heard a dead-bell toll, Starts. |
2. A sound in the ears like that of a bell, supposed by the superstitious to portend a death.
| 1807 Hogg Mountain Bard 17 (Jam.) O lady, 'tis dark, an' I heard the death-bell, An' darena gae yonder for gowd nor fee. |