tocsin• I think he went on to the parapet and the tocsin was sounded to make him run.• Secondly, Mowbray was lured to his death by the tocsin sounding.• Some weeks later, the tocsin bell rang out throughout the fortress-monastery.• The bell was the tocsin in the Tower!• He was still there when the tocsin sounded.• When the tocsin sounded I lurched out with the others to see what was wrong.
Origintocsin
(1500-1600)Old Frenchtoquassen, from Old Provençaltocasenh, from tocar“to touch, ring a bell” + senh“bell” (from Latinsignum; → SIGN1)