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Glite Dictionary
fogsignal

fogsignal

8.3
A loud low sound that warns ships in thick fog
  • noun
  • /ˈfɔɡˌsɪɡnəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : señal de niebla
  • When the fogsignal sounded, the crew knew they were approaching the channel entrance.

Examples

  • The ship's captain listened for the fogsignal to alert him to nearby hazards.

  • During the thick fog, the lighthouse used its fogsignal every five minutes.

  • The fogsignal echoed through the harbor.

  • Many ships rely on a fogsignal for safety.

  • In dense fog, the vessel relied on the fogsignal to navigate safely through the waters.

  • The fogsignal warned all nearby ships of the dangerous visibility conditions ahead.

  • Every time the fogsignal sounded, the crew prepared for possible obstacles in their path.

Synonyms

foghorn
vsfogsignal
8 4.6

A loud, low horn that warns ships in fog

is the warning sound itself rather than the physical device
diaphone
vsfogsignal
  • Archaic
9.9

A foghorn that makes two different sounds to warn ships in fog

is the general loud low warning sound rather than a two tone instrument

How Loud

siren
259 2.9
air horn
1 3.0
fogsignal
  • Specialized
8.3
horn
183 1.0
to bell
14 6.0
to chime
61 3.0

Surface Forms

fogsignal singular
fogsignals plural

Morphology

fogsignal = fog + signal (transparent) = fog + signal

Meaning is directly derivable from 'fog' + 'signal': a signal used in foggy conditions to warn ships.

Etymology

The word fogsignal is a simple compound of fog ('thick mist') and signal ('a warning sound'). Think of a lighthouse horn calling out in the mist to warn ships, so a fogsignal is the loud, low warning used to alert ships in foggy conditions.