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tocsin

 - 3 dictionary results

toc⋅sin

  [tok-sin]
Use tocsin in a Sentence
–noun
1. a signal, esp. of alarm, sounded on a bell or bells.
2. a bell used to sound an alarm.
Origin:
1580–90; < MF < Pr tocasenh lit., (it) strikes (the) bell, equiv. to toca, 3d sing. pres. of tocar to strike, touch + senh bell, sign
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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toc·sin   (tŏk'sĭn)   
n.  

    1. An alarm sounded on a bell.

    2. A bell used to sound an alarm.

  2. A warning; an omen.


[French, alteration of toquassen, from Old French touque-sain, from Old Provençal tocasenh : tocar, to strike (from Vulgar Latin *toccāre) + senh, bell (from Late Latin signum, from Latin, signal; see sign).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

tocsin 
"alarm bell," 1586, from M.Fr. toquassen "an alarm bell, the ringing of an alarm bell" (1372), from O.Prov. tocasenh, from tocar "to strike" (from V.L. *toccare "strike a bell;" see touch) + senh "bell, bell note," from L.L. signum "bell, ringing of a bell," in L. "mark, signal." The current Eng. spelling is from 1794, adopted from modern Fr.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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