fiery cross

American  

noun

1. a burning cross, the rallying symbol of ancient Scotland and later of the Highlanders in case of war; later adopted by other organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan.

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fiery cross British  

noun

1. a burning cross, used as a symbol by the Ku Klux Klan

2. a wooden cross with ends charred or dipped in blood formerly used by Scottish Highlanders to summon the clans to battle

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Example Sentences

Police drone footage showed the cathedral’s roof as a fiery cross illuminating the night sky.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 17, 2019

Dier, improbably, had another big chance a couple of moments later when Lingard thrashed another fiery cross into the danger area.

From The Guardian • Jul. 14, 2018

It appeared as a fiery cross in the sky.

From Washington Times • Aug. 29, 2015

Sir Ronald might have saved self & Cyprus both trouble and expense had he radioed for help as soon as the "fiery cross" blazed high, two nights before the riots.

From Time Magazine Archive

Just as ages and ages later, not far from the same region, some Scottish runner carried the fiery cross, Ab ran exultingly with the news it was his to bring.

From The Story of Ab A Tale of the Time of the Cave Man by Waterloo, Stanley