tocsin
Bell signaling danger
A tocsin is an alarm bell, or the ringing of one to signal danger or emergency.
The word extends to any urgent warning signal: The report sounded a tocsin about climate change.
Literary and somewhat old-fashioned, it appears more often in figurative than literal use.
Shrill medieval war trumpet
- sirenWailing alert device
- hornPointed animal headgear
- bugleValveless military horn
- trumpetValved brass wind instrument
shofar · klaxon · whistle · fanfare · reveille · claxon · loudspeaker · gong
Urgent warning signal
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- summonsFormal court notification
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
portent · omen · foreboding · presage · foreshadow · herald · caution · advisory
Exposure to harm
- threatIndication of potential harm
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- urgencyPressing need for action
- evacuationRemoval from danger
panic · fear · chaos · commotion · disaster · catastrophe · mayday · SOS
Tower containing bells
- campanileFreestanding tower for bells
- towerTall slender edifice
- tollingSlow, solemn bell-ringing
- knellSolemn bell stroke
peal · chime · clapper · bronze · carillon · church · steeple · curfew
Of the Middle Ages
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- rampartsProtective fortress walls
- watchtowerElevated structure for surveillance
sentry · garrison · citadel · fortress · revolution · uprising · insurrection · rebellion
clarion
Shrill medieval war trumpet
trumpet · shofar · klaxon · whistle · fanfare · reveille · claxon · loudspeaker · gong · drumbeat
alarm
Urgent warning signal
harbinger · portent · omen · foreboding · presage · foreshadow · herald · caution · advisory · notice
danger
Exposure to harm
evacuation · panic · fear · chaos · commotion · disaster · catastrophe · mayday · SOS · rescue
belfry
Tower containing bells
knell · peal · chime · clapper · bronze · carillon · church · steeple · curfew · bourdon
medieval
Of the Middle Ages
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- rampartsProtective fortress walls
watchtower · sentry · garrison · citadel · fortress · revolution · uprising · insurrection · rebellion · commune
- alarmsalarm, fire alarm, alert, smoke alarm, burglar alarm
- calls to actioncall to arms, rallying cry, battle cry, war cry, appeal
tocsinall-clear
Signal danger has passed
wedding bells · stand-down · carillon · fanfare · church bells
tocsinlullaby
Soothing song for babies
reassurance · calm · tranquility · comfort · serenity