deathbox

English

Alternative forms

• death-box, death box

Etymology

From death +‎ box. Compare Dutch doodskist (literally “death-chest”).

Noun

deathbox (plural deathboxes)

1. (nonstandard, kenning) coffin
   • 2002, William T. Vollmann, Argall: The True Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith:

     Once he was asleep again, they brought him back again, bound him, sealed him in his deathbox, muffled the World from him with a black, black pall.

   • 2003, Philip Kaplan, Chariots of Fire:

     I always remember hearing infantry men say to us again and again: 'I wouldn't like to go in your deathboxes,' and we always answered: 'And we don't like to walk.'”

   • 2011, Amaleka McCall, Hard Candy:

     Razor's mother hollered and spread her body atop her son's shiny death box. “Why, Lord? Why my chile?!” the woman screamed.

   • 2011, Ian Watson, The Book of the Stars: Black Current, book 2:

     The local militia, led by their 'jack captain, paid their respects by carrying the death-box and by escorting it.