deathwatch beetle
noun
: any of various small beetles (family Anobiidae, especially Xestobium rufovillosum) that bore in seasoned or dead wood (as of old buildings) and make a tapping noise as a mating call
Examples of deathwatch beetle in a Sentence
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This curse is symbolized by the ominous sound of a deathwatch beetle, which Sally hears tapping away before her husband's tragic accident.
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Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Oct. 2024
Though there's no deathwatch beetle signaling doom, the idea of a curse still resonates because negative energy and belief in a curse can shape outcomes and influence manifestations.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Oct. 2024
Termites also bored through decks and masts and cabin doors, as did deathwatch beetles.
—David Grann, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023
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Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Oct. 2024
Though there's no deathwatch beetle signaling doom, the idea of a curse still resonates because negative energy and belief in a curse can shape outcomes and influence manifestations.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Oct. 2024
Termites also bored through decks and masts and cabin doors, as did deathwatch beetles.
—David Grann, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Deathwatch beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deathwatch%20beetle. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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