old man’s friend
n.— «Until recent times, most of us, when we died, died at home, surrounded by family and friends. Death often came with merciful rapidity. Pneumonia was commonly referred to as “the old man’s friend.”» —“Legalize the right to die in peace?” by Arthur Schafer Globe and Mail Jan. 17, 1984. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
You know when a cat’s tail goes straight up and appears to vibrate? Emily from Coventry, Rhode Island, says her family has their own word for that: fribbling. She says her family also made up the word bomple to denote the action of fruit...
Have you ever googled your own name and found someone else who goes by the very same moniker? There’s a word for that: googleganger. Plus, the language of hobbyists and enthusiasts: If you’re a beekeeper, perhaps you call yourself a...