a small beetle (anobium tessellatum and other allied species). by forcibly striking its head against woodwork it makes a ticking sound, which is a call of the sexes to each other, but has been imagined by superstitious people to presage death.-a small wingless insect, of the family psocidae, which makes a similar but fainter sound; -- called also deathtick.-the guard set over a criminal before his execution.