bell

bell

bell¹ [bel]

n.

[ME & OE belle < IE base * bhel-, to sound, roar (orig. ? echoic) > BELLOW, ON belja, to roar]

1. a hollow object, usually cuplike, made of metal or other hard material which rings when struck, as by a clapper inside

2. such an object rung to mark the hours or the beginning and end of a period of time

3. the sound made by a bell

4. anything shaped like a bell, as a flower, the flare of a horn, etc.

5. [pl.] a musical instrument made up of a series of tuned metal bars or hollow tubes that are sounded by striking; specif.,

a) GLOCKENSPIEL

b) chimes: see CHIME¹, n. 2

6. Naut.

a) a bell rung every half hour during each of the five four-hour watches and during the four-hour period comprising the two dog watches: the series of rings begins at one bell (12:30, 4:30, and 8:30 o'clock) and ends at eight bells (4:00, 8:00, and 12:00 o'clock)

b) any of these half-hour periods

vt.

1. to attach a bell or bells to

2. to shape like a bell

vi.

to flare out like a bell

bell² [bel]

n.

[ME bellen < OE bellan: see BELL¹]

a bellow; roar

vi.

to utter long, deep sounds, as a hound in pursuit of game; bay; bellow