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

The remainder of the handbills were kept at independent headquarters, to be flourished as a fiery cross on election day.

From Time Magazine Archive

Now, in America, she had determined to make the best of a bad bargain by sending the fiery cross through the States.

From Winnie Childs The Shop Girl by Williamson, C. N. (Charles Norris)