deathwatch

death·watch  (dthwch)

n.

1. A vigil kept beside a dying or dead person.

2. One who guards a condemned person before execution.

3. A deathwatch beetle.

Thesaurus

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