Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a signal, especially of alarm, sounded on a bell or bells.
- a bell used to sound an alarm.
noun
- an alarm or warning signal, esp one sounded on a bell
- an alarm bell
“alarm bell,” 1580s, from Middle French toquassen “an alarm bell, the ringing of an alarm bell” (late 14c.), from Old Provençal tocasenh, from tocar “to strike” (from Vulgar Latin *toccare “strike a bell;” see touch) + senh “bell, bell note,” from Late Latin signum “bell, ringing of a bell,” in Latin “mark, signal.” The current English spelling is from 1794, adopted from modern French.