deathwatch beetle

deathwatch beetle

n.

Any one of several beetles of the family Anobiidae, especially Xestobium rufovillosum, whose head makes a clicking sound as it burrows into wood or wooden structures. The sound was superstitiously regarded as a portent of death.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

deathwatch beetle - bores through wood making a ticking sound popularly thought to presage death Xestobium rufovillosum, deathwatch beetle - insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings Anobiidae, family Anobiidae - deathwatch beetles

Translations

deathwatch beetle [ˌdeθwɒtʃˈbiːtl] N → reloj m de la muerte(tipo de carcoma)