tocsin Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the sound of an alarm (usually a bell)
    alarm bell.
  2. noun a bell used to sound an alarm
    warning bell.

WordNet

Toc"sin noun
Etymology
F., fr. OF. toquier to touch, F. toquer (originally, a dialectic form of F. toucher) + seint (for sein) a bell, LL. signum, fr. L. signum a sign, signal. See Touch, and Sign.
Definitions
  1. An alarm bell, or the ringing of a bell for the purpose of alarm.
    The loud tocsin tolled their last alarm. Campbell.

Webster 1913