tocsin
An alarm or other signal sounded by a bell or bells, originally especially with…An alarm or other signal sounded by a bell or bells, originally especially with reference to France.
» His demand for immediate emancipation fell like a tocsin upon the ears of slaveholders.
Meaning
2 sensesAn alarm or other signal sounded by a bell or bells, originally especially with reference to France.
Alarmsignal, Glockenalarm
наба́тnabát
the sound of an alarm (usually a bell)
A bell used to sound an alarm.
Alarmglocke
наба́тnabát
a bell used to sound an alarm
Examples
2 sentencesHis demand for immediate emancipation fell like a tocsin upon the ears of slaveholders.
"This dismissal," he said, "is the tocsin of the St Bartholomew of the patriots."
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
Origin
Borrowed from Middle French, from Old French toquesain (modern tocsin), from Old Occitan tBorrowed from Middle French, from Old French toquesain (modern tocsin), from Old Occitan tocasenh, from tocar (“strike, touch”) + senh (“bell”).
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