Definition of "death-bell" []

• The bell that announces a death; the passing-bell. (noun)
• A sound in the ears like that of a tolling bell, supposed by the superstitious to presage death. (noun)
• Also, rarely, dead-bell. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "I could only see one of the two sights, and therefore naturally preferred the latter, while I only heard tolling at a distance the death-bell of the sacrifice to justice."
• "When men he has wronged, and on whom he has bestowed his insolence, are getting ready to be hanged, there is a death-bell ringing."
• "Strike the slow death-bell! — weave the sacred verse,"