windingsheet

Sir Thomas Overbury, describing the “faire and happy milkmaid,” observes, “thus lives she, and all her care is, that she may die in the spring-time, to have store of flowers stucke upon her windingsheet.”

The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon 2002

At this crisis Theodora saved the empire for her husband by her words: "The purple is a good windingsheet".

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson-Clairvaux 1840-1916 1913

The harlot's cry from street to street Shall weave Old Ireland's windingsheet.

Ulysses James Joyce 1911

He taketh the sword that lay at his side and lifteth the windingsheet to rend it at the seam, then taketh the knight by the head to lift him upward, and findeth him so heavy and so ungain that scarce may he remove him.

The High History of the Holy Graal Anonymous 1869

"Sir Knight, lay down the sword and this that you have taken of the windingsheet of the dead knight!"

The High History of the Holy Graal Anonymous 1869

"Ha, Sir Knight, now see I plainly that you slew him that I am wrapping in his windingsheet!"

The High History of the Holy Graal Anonymous 1869

It were a sad thing, if a man should be forced to make his tablecloth his windingsheet, and his poison his religion.

Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions. Vol. VI. 1634-1716 1823

But he that has not the courage to puff at all popular surmises, and to esteem himself superior to the riots and mistakes of hectors; but by a foolish facility appears and ventures his life at the word and challenge of a furious sot, whose life is not worth the keeping, falls ingloriously, and descends to his grave with the burial of an ass; shame is his windingsheet, and the solemnity of his funeral, the reprehension of the wise, the pity of the good, and the laughter of his companions; who can make sport at the loss of a soul, and the miseries of damnation.

Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions. Vol. VII. 1634-1716 1823