noun
- an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as a light whose position may be changed.
- any of various devices for signaling by changing the position of a light, flag, etc.
- a system of signaling, especially a system by which a special flag is held in each hand and various positions of the arms indicate specific letters, numbers, etc.
verb (used with or without object), sem·a·phored, sem·a·phor·ing.
- to signal by semaphore or by some system of flags.
noun
- an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as with movable arms or railway signals, flags, etc
- a system of signalling by holding a flag in each hand and moving the arms to designated positions to denote each letter of the alphabet
verb
- to signal (information) by means of semaphore
n.“apparatus for signaling,” 1816, probably via French sémaphore, literally “a bearer of signals,” ultimately from Greek sema “sign, signal” (see semantic) + phoros “bearer,” from pherein “to carry” (see infer). Related: Semaphoric (1808).