safety zone
/ˈseɪftɪ zəʊn/noun
1An area round a person, building, etc., in which safety is sought or ensured; specifically an island or part of a road or square where pedestrians may wait in safety to cross the road, catch a bus, etc.
2During the Second World War (1939–45): an area round the Americas (excluding Canada and the European colonies of the Caribbean) in which military action was declared to be prohibited. Also in extended use. Now historical.
- The Pan-American declaration of the 300-mile-wide zone in September 1939 proved meaningless: in December 1939 a battle took place between a German battleship and British cruisers 200 miles off the coast of Uruguay..
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Annual Reports Inspectors of Explosives 1876. From safety + zone.
- topsy-turvily
- topsy-turviness
- topsy-turvy
- topsy-turvydom
- top table
- top ten (or twenty etc.)
- top-tier
- top tip
- top to tail
- top-up
- to put it mildly (or putting it mildly)
- to put on one's running shoes
- topwater
- top weight
- toque
- toquilla
- tor
- Torah
- Torbay
- torc
- torch
- torchbearer
- torchlight
- torchlit
- torchon