noun
deathbed adoption of a successor; person adopted on someone's deathbed
Historical and legal term referring to the practice of adopting an heir on one's deathbed to prevent the extinction of the family line. Can refer to the act itself or the adopted person.
江戸時代には、家の断絶を防ぐために末期養子が認められていた。
In the Edo period, deathbed adoption was permitted to prevent the extinction of a family line.
彼は末期養子として家督を継いだ。
He succeeded to the family headship as a person adopted on the previous head's deathbed.