noun
water given to a dying person to moisten their lips
Refers to the ritual or act of moistening the lips of someone near death, often as a final compassionate gesture. Related to the term 死に水.
See also: 死に水
看護師が末期の水を取って、患者の唇を湿らせた。
The nurse brought water for the dying and moistened the patient's lips.
死に水 is a more general term for the water given to a dying person, while 末期の水 specifically emphasizes the 'final moments' aspect.
Compound of 末期 (matsugo, 'deathbed, final moments') and 水 (mizu, 'water'). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it is a traditional term in Japanese deathbed customs.