Knell n.  The stroke of a bell tolled at a funeral or at the death of a person; a death signal; a passing bell; hence, (figuratively), a warning or harbinger of, or a sound indicating, the passing away of anything; -- also called death knell.
 The dead man's knell
 Is there scarce asked for who.   --Shak.
    The curfew tolls the knell of parting day.   --Gray.


 death knell, n.
 1. A stroke or tolling of a bell, announcing a death; a knell1.

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 death knell
      n 1: an omen of death or destruction
      2: a bell rung to announce a death [syn: death bell]