DMG 13: “loss of life span”. For a better idea of the intent here, refer to OD&D Vol 2. pg. 35: “Staff of Withering: A Staff which adds nothing to hit probability, but when a hit
is scored it scores one die of damage and ages the creature struck by ten years.
(This is not to say it matures it, but rather it shortens the life span by ten years.) A man struck four times thusly will be doddering, an animal dead of old age, and so on.”