bell
bell [-s] n
OE, possibly 'roar, loud noise'.
- Carillon; belfry; community signal; cup-shaped chiming implement hanging in the bell tower of a church; clock instrument used to send public messages and mark time.
- Ringing instrument; signal of victory.
- Sonorant vessel; hollow body; resonating instrument; cast metal casing that emits a clear musical sound, by the sonorous vibration of its entire circumference; inverted deep cup with a recurving brim, which is struck by a clapper suspended from the center of the interior.
- Reverberation; sound waves; geometric curve; heavenly orbit; [fig.] prayer; communion; communication with Deity.
- Clock; time-keeper; object rung to announce the hours.
- Signal system; [fig.] rejoicing; sound of people rising in the resurrection.
- Joy; sounding of good news.
- Noise-maker; loud signal; [Webster] “those who went the nightly rounds in camps or garrisons, used to ring a bell, at each sentinel box, to see that the soldier on duty was awake.”
- Knell; funeral signal.
- Tinkling ornament; (see Zechariah 14:20; see also Webster 1844: “The blue tunic of the Jewish high-priest was adorned with golden bells; and the kings of Persia … adorned with them in like manner”).
- Military signal.
- Alarm; signal of danger; [Webster: “Bells were also put on the necks of criminals, to warn persons to move out of the way.”]
- Door ringer; entry signal.
- Church signal.
- Cup-shaped bloom; corolla of a blossom; calyx of a flower.
- Declaration; proclamation; [word play on “belle”] debutante; lovely maiden; pretty one.
- Time period; range of time.
- Phrase. “Currer Bell”: (see Bell, Currer, proper n.)