末まつ期ご養よう子し

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.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、家いえの断だん絶ぜつを防ふせぐために末まつ期ご養よう子しが認みとめられていた。

  In the Edo period, deathbed adoption was permitted to prevent the extinction of a family line.

• 彼かれは末まつ期ご養よう子しとして家か督とくを継ついだ。

  He succeeded to the family headship as a person adopted on the previous head's deathbed.