klaxon
/ˈklaks(ə)n
/noun trademark
An electric horn or warning hooter: the tug blew its klaxon three times...
- As a police helicopter thundered overhead, many of the demonstrators sounded klaxons and blew horns to make their point.
- After all the excitement had died down and we were getting on with what we were doing beforehand, the fire klaxon sounded again.
- Somewhere, off in the distance, a klaxon sounded and everyone around me started running.
Origin
Early 20th century: from the name of the manufacturing company.