'It will be the death nel(l) of.....'

[darth vader]

...to indicate a particular thing will affect the downfall of another thing (eg. eCommerce will be the death nel of high street shopping) - why the phrase 'death nel(l)' and where does it come from? (and is it one L or two?)

[rekstout]

In the past, church bells would be rung to signify the death of someone important - could that be it?

PS - I think it's spelt "knell"

[andy hughes]

It's right - the death knell was the sound of a single bell which would have it's clapper temorarily muffled on one side, so the bell would sound a single note with a long pause - denoting a death.