deathbed

Meaning

Noun

• The bed on which someone dies.
• The last hours before death.

Origin

• From Middle English dethbed, from Old English dēaþbed, dēaþbedd; equivalent to death + bed. Cognate with Swedish dödsbädd. Compare also Dutch sterfbed, German Sterbebett and Totenbett (both “deathbed”), Danish dødsleje.