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

Now the delegates to the Congress of Soviets, hurrying on speeding trains to the farthest reaches of Asia, were coming to their homes, carrying the fiery cross.

From Ten Days That Shook the World by Reed, John