tocsin
pronunciation
How to pronounce tocsin in British English:
UK [ˈtɒksɪn]
How to pronounce tocsin in American English:
US [ˈtɑksɪn]
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- Noun:
- the sound of an alarm (usually a bell)
- a bell used to sound an alarm
Word Origin
- tocsin
- tocsin: see touch
- tocsin (n.)
- "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 (v.)) + senh "bell, bell note," from Late Latin signum "bell, ringing of a bell," in Latin "mark, signal" (see sign (n.)). The current English spelling is from 1794, adopted from modern French.
Example
- 1. A tocsin ringing from church steeples ;
- 2. The government , with an army in its hand , hesitated ; the night was almost upon them , and the saint-merry tocsin began to make itself heard .
- 3. From your ranks come the great captains who hold the nation 's destiny in their hands the moment the war tocsin sounds .
- 4. Glanced down from behind his chimneys at the darkening faces by the fountain below , and sent word to the sacristan who kept the keys of the church , that there might be need to ring the tocsin by-and-by .