fanal
9.9
A tower with a light that guides ships at sea
- noun
- Archaic
:
faro
- As dusk settled, the fanal stood tall, illuminating the rocky coastline for approaching ships.
Examples
-
Sailors spotted the fanal shining brightly, guiding them back to the harbor.
-
The ancient mariner relied on the fanal to navigate safely through the fog.
-
The last fanal to be brought out represented the fortress of Podor (Fig. 13).
Academic text (2009)
Synonyms
beacon
vsfanal
66
4.3
A light or fire on the coast that guides ships and warns of danger
is an older maritime word used specifically for sea navigation aids
lighthouse
vsfanal
65
1.8
A tall tower on the coast with a bright light that guides ships
is an older term for these sea guiding structures rather than modern
2
9.9
A tall tower with a light that guides ships at sea
is an older term used generally for sea guiding lights
beacon light
vsfanal
4.7
A tower with a light that warns ships about rocks and shallow water
is an older term for sea guiding lights used more generally than warning towers
How Bright
Surface Forms
Etymology
Fanal comes from French where it meant a coastal 'beacon' or lighthouse that guides ships at sea, so a fanal was a light on the shore that helped sailors find the harbor.