passing bell

American  

noun

1. a bell tolled to announce a death or funeral.

2. a portent or sign of the passing away of anything.

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passing bell British  

noun

1. Also called: death bell.   death knell.  a bell rung to announce a death or a funeral

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Etymology

Origin of passing bell

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

In Bishop Blougram's Apology, Browning's bishop says of the "-ologies" that they are "the Greek endings, the little passing bell that signifies some faith's about to die."

From Time Magazine Archive

Somewhere near, a passing bell was tolling; the dogs all round the neighbourhood were howling; and in our shrubbery, seemingly just outside, a nightingale was singing.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Every syllable of this last sad wail is as a funeral knell to all our hopes, tolling mournfully; and, like a passing bell, attending them, too, to their "age-long home"!

From Old Groans and New Songs Being Meditations on the Book of Ecclesiastes by Jennings, Frederick Charles

I shall die to-morrow——And will you ring my passing bell?

From The Inconstant by Farquhar, George

"Oh, Suzanne," he continued, as mournful as a passing bell, "come to the door with me."

From The "Genius" by Dreiser, Theodore